Versions[]
Version 1[]
Rory Dodd and Jim Steinman on a demo recording
The Everly Brothers on On the Wings of a Nightingale
Version 1A[]
Gina Taylor on a demo recording
Similar Songs[]
This song shares musical elements with "Out of the Frying Pan (And Into the Fire)", as well as lyrical elements with a different song called "A Kiss Is a Terrible Thing to Waste." The Gina Taylor version has some melodic elements similar to "Rebel Without a Clue"
Lyrics[]
Version 1[]
There's a woman sitting out on the porch
And she's talking to her daughter in a voice so soft
Telling her something 'bout the future and the rest of her life
And the stars just kept on burning
There's a city boy who's restless and rough
But when his mama's there to hold him then he ain't so tough
She's telling him the lessons he'll be learning for the rest of his life
And the planets kept on turning
Don't let your dreams get all rusty
Keep on using them as hard as you can
The night is so much darker than it has any right to be
Don't let it all get away from you
Don't let it slip through your hands
And...
Blessed are the lovers just beginning to learn
Blessed are the fires just beginning to burn
You'll have to pay for it later
If you don't get it when it's going for free
And you remember that
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
Just tell 'em your mama said so
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
And "if only" are the loneliest words you'll ever know
"If only" are the loneliest words you'll ever know
If only I was ten years younger
If only I didn't need that touch
If only I could lose this hunger
If only it didn't mean so much
If only I had done things different
If only I had done the same
If only I had that guy's body
If only I had that guy's name
There's a couple making out in a car
They're steaming up the windows and they've gone so far
That they wonder when to stop
And they wonder if they're doing it right
And the dashboard lights are golden
They're staring into each other's eyes
They're getting to the truth because their bodies don't lie
They hear the voices of their mothers coming back in the night
It's an endless plan unfolding
Don't let your dreams get all rusty
Keep on using them as hard as you can
The night is so much darker than it has any right to be
Don't let it all get away from you
Don't let it slip through your hands
And...
Blessed are the lovers who'll inherit the earth
Blessed are the lovers who discovered it first
You'll have to pay for it later
If you don't get it when it's going for free
And believe me that
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
Just tell 'em your mama said so
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
And if only are the loneliest words you'll ever know
If only are the loneliest words you'll ever know
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
Just tell 'em your mama said so
A Kiss is a terrible thing to waste
And If only are the loneliest words you'll ever know
(repeat and fade)
Alternate Lyrics[]
I was lost till you were found
But I never knew how far down
I was falling
Before I reached the bottom
I was cold and you were fire
And I never knew how the pyre
Could be burning
On the edge of the ice field
And now the chilly California wind
Is blowing down our bodies again
And we're sinking deeper and deeper in the chilly California sand
Don't let it all get away from you
Don't let it slip through your hands
You'll never feel the rain if you never know it's coming
You'll never heal the pain if you never stop your running from it
Baby, baby don't you know by now
Everything in life will fade
Baby, baby we'll all get by somehow
There's no reason to be afraid
It's just an innocent taste
And a kiss is a terrible thing to waste
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
Just tell 'em your mama said so
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
And one of these nights you're gonna show me that you already know
I was damned and you were saved
And I never knew how enslaved
I was kneeling
In the chains of my master
I could laugh but you could cry
And I never knew just how high
I was flying
Ah, with you right above me
And now the chilly California wind
Is blowing down our bodies again
And we're sinking deeper and deeper in the chilly California sand
Don't let your dreams get all rusty
Keep on using them as hard as you can
The night is so much darker than it has any right to be
Don't let it all get away from you
Don't let it slip through your hands (and)
Blessed are the lovers just beginning to learn
Blessed are the fires just beginning to burn
You'll have to pay for it later
If you don't get it when it's going for free
And believe me that--
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
Just tell 'em your mama said so
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
And one of these nights you're gonna show me that you already know
Don't let it all get away from you
Don't let it slip through your hands
You'll never feel the rain if you never know it's coming
You'll never heal the pain if you never stop your running from it
Baby, baby don't you know by now
Everything in life will fade
Baby, baby we'll all get by somehow
There's no reason to be afraid
It's just an innocent taste
And a kiss is a terrible thing to waste
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
Just tell 'em your mama said so
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
And one of these nights you're gonna show me that you already know
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
Just tell 'em your mama said so
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
And "if only" are the loneliest words you'll ever know
And "if only" are the loneliest words you'll ever know
Version 1A Lyrics[]
What's the matter, boy?
You got a chill or something?
You've been shaking like a leaf
Ever since we started driving around
Why don't we park it over there by the tracks?
I'll tell you something now
Well you've never looked as good
As you've been looking to me
And I believe you've got it all and then more
And you'll be looking even better in a minute or two
Don't let it all get away from you
Don't let it slip away through your hands
You'll never feel the rain if you never know it's coming
You'll never heal the pain if you never stop your running from it
Baby, baby don't you know by now
Everything in life will fade
Baby, baby we'll all get by somehow
There's no reason to be so afraid
It's just an innocent taste
And a kiss is a terrible thing to waste
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
Just tell 'em your mama said so
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
And one of these nights you're gonna show me that you already know
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
Just tell 'em your mama said so
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
And one of these nights you're gonna show me that you already know
Well there's a current in the air
And it's charging up the sky
I get a bolt of lightning
Every time I run my hands down your chest
And your heart is really rocking like a drummer on fire
Don't let your dreams get all rusty
Keep on using them as hard as you can
The night is so much darker than it has any right to be
Don't let it all get away from you
Don't let it slip through your hands (don't let it slip through your hands)
Blessed are the lovers just beginning to learn
Blessed are the fires just beginning to burn
You'll have to pay for it later
If you don't get it when it's going for free
And believe me that--
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
Just tell 'em your mama said so
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
And one of these nights you're gonna show me that you already know
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
Just tell 'em your mama said so
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
And one of these nights you're gonna show me what you already know
Don't let it all get away from you
Don't let it slip away through your hands
You'll never feel the rain if you never know it's coming
You'll never heal the pain if you never stop your running from it
Baby, baby don't you know by now
Everything in life will fade
Baby, baby we'll all get by somehow
There's no reason to be so afraid
It's just an innocent taste
And a kiss is a terrible thing to waste
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
Just tell 'em your mama said so
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
And one of these nights you're gonna show me that you already know
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
Just tell 'em your mama said so
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
And one of these nights you're gonna show me what you already know
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
Just tell 'em your mama said so
A kiss is a terrible thing to waste
And "if only" are the loneliest words you'll ever know
"If only" are the loneliest words you'll ever know
(a kiss is a terrible thing to waste)
(just tell 'em your mama said so)
(a kiss is a terrible thing to waste...)
(a kiss is a terrible thing to waste...)
(baby, baby, oh baby...)
(just tell 'em your mama said so...)