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.
Yeah
Time's a wastin'
Don't you take your time young man
Keep on driftin'
Ain't no tellin' where you'll land
Run baby, run, run
Where you runnin' to?
And who you runnin' from?
Some people may not understand
What it means to be a man
Takin' full command
'Cause we're
Livin' in a world that's oh so strange
Boy don't let your focus change
Takin' out the demons in your range, hey
Livin' in a world that's oh so fast
Gotta make your money last
Learn from your past, oh
Time's a wastin'
Don't you take your time young man
Keep on driftin'
Ain't no tellin' where you'll land
Sweet love and sunshine
If it's all in the air
Then it's all on your mind
Uh, breathe baby
Come back to the world
Dig up all your pearls
Teach the boys and girls, hey
We're livin' in a world that's oh so strange
Boy don't let your focus change
Takin' out the demons in your range, hey
Livin' in a world that's oh so fast
Gotta make your money last
Learn from your past, ay
Oh (hum hum), baby (hum hum hum), we (hum hum hum), need to smile (hum hum)
Oh (hum hum hum hum), baby (hum hum), we (hum), need to smile (hum hum)
Ohh oh oh, baby (oh oh), we (oh oh), need to smile (oh oh)
Ohh oh, (baby) baby baby, we, (need) need to smile (oh oh)
'Cause time's a wastin'
Don't you take your time young man
Keep on driftin'
Ain't no tellin' where you'll land
Oh baby we need to smile
Oh (oh oh) baby we need to smile
Oh ooh oh, oh oh oh ooh
Oh, ooh ooh, oh, oh
Oh, time's a wastin' (ooh, oh, oh)
Don't you take your time young man (ay yeah ay)
Keep on driftin'
Ain't no tellin' where you'll land
(Yeah) (ay) (ain't no tellin') (oh)
Oh oh (yeah ain't no tellin' time) oh oh (take your time young man)
Oh, oh (no no), (ain't no tellin') oh
Oh oh (oh ooh oh ooh ay) oh oh, (ain't no tellin'), (no no tellin')
Oh oh (uh ooh uh ooh oh) oh oh (ain't no tellin')
Oh (I'm tellin' you no), oh oh, (yeah) (ain't no tellin') oh, oh oh (ain't no tellin')
Uh, oh (don't turn your baby) oh, oh, oh oh (don't turn your back hey) oh oh
(Don't turn your back I'm tellin' you no)
Time's a wastin'
Don't you take your time young man
Keep on driftin'
Ain't no tellin' where you'll land
Run baby, run, run
Where you runnin' to?
And who you runnin' from?
Some people may not understand
What it means to be a man
Takin' full command
'Cause we're
Livin' in a world that's oh so strange
Boy don't let your focus change
Takin' out the demons in your range, hey
Livin' in a world that's oh so fast
Gotta make your money last
Learn from your past, oh
Time's a wastin'
Don't you take your time young man
Keep on driftin'
Ain't no tellin' where you'll land
Sweet love and sunshine
If it's all in the air
Then it's all on your mind
Uh, breathe baby
Come back to the world
Dig up all your pearls
Teach the boys and girls, hey
We're livin' in a world that's oh so strange
Boy don't let your focus change
Takin' out the demons in your range, hey
Livin' in a world that's oh so fast
Gotta make your money last
Learn from your past, ay
Oh (hum hum), baby (hum hum hum), we (hum hum hum), need to smile (hum hum)
Oh (hum hum hum hum), baby (hum hum), we (hum), need to smile (hum hum)
Ohh oh oh, baby (oh oh), we (oh oh), need to smile (oh oh)
Ohh oh, (baby) baby baby, we, (need) need to smile (oh oh)
'Cause time's a wastin'
Don't you take your time young man
Keep on driftin'
Ain't no tellin' where you'll land
Oh baby we need to smile
Oh (oh oh) baby we need to smile
Oh ooh oh, oh oh oh ooh
Oh, ooh ooh, oh, oh
Oh, time's a wastin' (ooh, oh, oh)
Don't you take your time young man (ay yeah ay)
Keep on driftin'
Ain't no tellin' where you'll land
(Yeah) (ay) (ain't no tellin') (oh)
Oh oh (yeah ain't no tellin' time) oh oh (take your time young man)
Oh, oh (no no), (ain't no tellin') oh
Oh oh (oh ooh oh ooh ay) oh oh, (ain't no tellin'), (no no tellin')
Oh oh (uh ooh uh ooh oh) oh oh (ain't no tellin')
Oh (I'm tellin' you no), oh oh, (yeah) (ain't no tellin') oh, oh oh (ain't no tellin')
Uh, oh (don't turn your baby) oh, oh, oh oh (don't turn your back hey) oh oh
(Don't turn your back I'm tellin' you no)
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Time's a wastin Don't you take your time young man Keep on driftin and Ain't no tellin where you'll land
Run baby, run, run Where you runnin to? And who you runnin from? Some people may not understand What it means to be a man Takin full command
I think this song is regarding the rich culture of Black people's and our vibrant history.
I specifically believe she is talking to Black men - who have lost vision, of their greatness. I love it, reminds me of an ex boyfriend.
Time's a wastin Don't you take your time young man Keep on driftin and Ain't no tellin where you'll land
Run baby, run, run Where you runnin to? And who you runnin from? Some people may not understand What it means to be a man Takin full command
I think this song is regarding the rich culture of Black people's and our vibrant history.
I specifically believe she is talking to Black men - who have lost vision, of their greatness. I love it, reminds me of an ex boyfriend.
Keep on driftin and Ain't no tellin where you'll land
watching someone in thought, waiting for them to come back to you, aint no tellin where (what you will make them come back)
Run baby, run, run Where you runnin' to? And who you runnin' from?
run - continue living but do you have a purpose?
Some people may not understand What it means to be a man Takin' full command
to be a man - deciding to stay present - giving your all in the moment - fighting to keep both of you in the moment when it's ur turn. Some can't do that
'Cause we're Livin' in a world that's oh so strange
life can't be explained overall
Boy don't let your focus change
defining boy defining man
Takin' out the demons in your range, hey
take out all the thoughts that take you away
Livin' in a world that's oh so fast
can't take a moment to realise the truth. fast pace for distraction
Thoughts?