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.
Did you hear the latest one
About the footprints on your back
About how they lied
About how they stole
To keep each other in the black
I really wonder when it all comes down
Who will be dancing at the finish line
Ten to one it'll be the ones without a spine
Once again the truth fades into extinction
Short and sweet, this might burn a little now
It burns a little now
I've stopped looking for the medicine
I've stopped thinking it won't happen again
It's one thing to accept it
Another thing to let it catch you from behind
To shake you down
To live with it
And not make a sound
I've stopped looking for the medicine
I'm so sick that we're surprised
Everytime we're shown that power corrupts
Thump our chests at the man on the screen
Cursing the green
Tell ourselves that enough is enough
Another day
Another dollar
Another way to live with a life so intolerable
About the footprints on your back
About how they lied
About how they stole
To keep each other in the black
I really wonder when it all comes down
Who will be dancing at the finish line
Ten to one it'll be the ones without a spine
Once again the truth fades into extinction
Short and sweet, this might burn a little now
It burns a little now
I've stopped looking for the medicine
I've stopped thinking it won't happen again
It's one thing to accept it
Another thing to let it catch you from behind
To shake you down
To live with it
And not make a sound
I've stopped looking for the medicine
I'm so sick that we're surprised
Everytime we're shown that power corrupts
Thump our chests at the man on the screen
Cursing the green
Tell ourselves that enough is enough
Another day
Another dollar
Another way to live with a life so intolerable
Lyrics submitted by skycamefalling00
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