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.
When the smoke clears and you can’t find yourself
You’ll wonder what went wrong again
Living low and resisting help
Is a way to lose all your friends
It’s time to get out of your antique shell
Yet I know there isn’t a chance in hell
Breakdown
Once again you fell
Feeling so unwell
Get back on the track
And put the pieces back......together
You’re like a car with cut tires
In a race you have no choice but to lose
Life moves like a raging fire
While you’re stuck in a windowless room
How can you expect to obtain any trust
When your own thoughts are starting to rust
Breakdown
If you were made of glass
We could so easily make you crack
There’s no improving in failing
There’s only gratitude in surviving......today
CHORUS
Your life is falling down
And your thoughts are turning gray
And your body’s aching hard
And it hasn’t been your day
All of this will stay the same....
Unless you change your ways
Word has it you got up this morning
And you felt so despaired
So you packed up all your things
And left the house without a care
I wonder where you went
Must be to your next accident
(the stones breaking your shield)
No one can help you now
It’s you against yourself
Yet an other endless self-war
Detrimental to your health
(the stones breaking your shield)
We tried to help you for so many years
But you just didn’t want to hear
(the stones broke your shield)
CHORUS
In a world where cold technology leads the way
How can expect to survive holding on to tradition?
Sympathy’s dead, respect is dead......
Consider yourself dead.
You’ll wonder what went wrong again
Living low and resisting help
Is a way to lose all your friends
It’s time to get out of your antique shell
Yet I know there isn’t a chance in hell
Breakdown
Once again you fell
Feeling so unwell
Get back on the track
And put the pieces back......together
You’re like a car with cut tires
In a race you have no choice but to lose
Life moves like a raging fire
While you’re stuck in a windowless room
How can you expect to obtain any trust
When your own thoughts are starting to rust
Breakdown
If you were made of glass
We could so easily make you crack
There’s no improving in failing
There’s only gratitude in surviving......today
CHORUS
Your life is falling down
And your thoughts are turning gray
And your body’s aching hard
And it hasn’t been your day
All of this will stay the same....
Unless you change your ways
Word has it you got up this morning
And you felt so despaired
So you packed up all your things
And left the house without a care
I wonder where you went
Must be to your next accident
(the stones breaking your shield)
No one can help you now
It’s you against yourself
Yet an other endless self-war
Detrimental to your health
(the stones breaking your shield)
We tried to help you for so many years
But you just didn’t want to hear
(the stones broke your shield)
CHORUS
In a world where cold technology leads the way
How can expect to survive holding on to tradition?
Sympathy’s dead, respect is dead......
Consider yourself dead.
Lyrics submitted by _Exodus_
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So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
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