The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Ev'ry night I sit here by my window (window)
Starin' at the lonely avenue (avenue)
Watching lovers holdin' hands 'n' laughin' (laughin')
And thinkin' 'bout the things we used to do
(Thinkin' of things) like a walk in the park
(Things) like a kiss in the dark
(Things) like a sailboat ride (yeah-yeah)
What about the night we cried?
Things like a lover's vow
Things that we don't do now
Thinkin' 'bout the things we used to do
Memories are all I have to cling to (cling to)
And heartaches are the friends I'm talkin' to (talkin' to)
When I'm not thinkin' of-a just how much I loved you (love you)
Well, I'm-a thinkin' 'bout the things we used to do
(Thinkin' of things) like a walk in the park
(Things) like a kiss in the dark
(Things) like a sailboat ride (yeah-yeah)
What about the night we cried?
Things like a lover's vow
Things that we don't do now
Thinkin' 'bout the things we used to do
I still can hear the jukebox softly playin' (playin')
And the face I see each day belongs to you (belongs to you)
Though there's not a single sound and there's nobody else around
Well, it's just me thinkin' of the things we used to do
(Thinkin' of things) like a walk in the park
(Things) like a kiss in the dark
(Things) like a sailboat ride (yeah-yeah)
What about the night we cried?
Things like a lover's vow
Things that we don't do now
Thinkin' 'bout the things we used to do
And the heartaches are the friends I'm talkin' to
Ya got me thinkin' 'bout the things we used to do
Starin' at the lonely avenue
Starin' at the lonely avenue (avenue)
Watching lovers holdin' hands 'n' laughin' (laughin')
And thinkin' 'bout the things we used to do
(Thinkin' of things) like a walk in the park
(Things) like a kiss in the dark
(Things) like a sailboat ride (yeah-yeah)
What about the night we cried?
Things like a lover's vow
Things that we don't do now
Thinkin' 'bout the things we used to do
Memories are all I have to cling to (cling to)
And heartaches are the friends I'm talkin' to (talkin' to)
When I'm not thinkin' of-a just how much I loved you (love you)
Well, I'm-a thinkin' 'bout the things we used to do
(Thinkin' of things) like a walk in the park
(Things) like a kiss in the dark
(Things) like a sailboat ride (yeah-yeah)
What about the night we cried?
Things like a lover's vow
Things that we don't do now
Thinkin' 'bout the things we used to do
I still can hear the jukebox softly playin' (playin')
And the face I see each day belongs to you (belongs to you)
Though there's not a single sound and there's nobody else around
Well, it's just me thinkin' of the things we used to do
(Thinkin' of things) like a walk in the park
(Things) like a kiss in the dark
(Things) like a sailboat ride (yeah-yeah)
What about the night we cried?
Things like a lover's vow
Things that we don't do now
Thinkin' 'bout the things we used to do
And the heartaches are the friends I'm talkin' to
Ya got me thinkin' 'bout the things we used to do
Starin' at the lonely avenue
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Things Lyrics as written by Bobby Darin
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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