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.
I'm an educated fool
So I don't know what it is I'm supposed to do
About this awkward situation
That's been forced down right upon me
As I'm walking down into
On my own into the valley of life
Got a lifetime of experience
Yeah, I've got so much to give
Open the page at chapter one
Could this just be that life's just begun?
Forever within your darker thoughts
Reflecting on everything you've been taught
Never felt this way before
Seems that somebody's just opened the door
To the book of life, or is it death?
Is there ever any way out?
Someone's looking down on me
To the very inner core of my soul
They won't tell me what they see
But I really want to know
I want to live my life on my own
I want to lift the unturned stone
I want to walk right into the fire
I want to live out all my desires
I want to go and see the fire burn
I want to see and feel my world turn
I want to know what more there's to learn
I want to pass the point of no return
Do you really want to be
Just another one statistic?
Or feel that you really should aspire
That you really do deserve more
Do you ever really feel
That you have so much potential inside?
What you really have to give
Could be realized much more
I want to live my life on my own
I want to lift the unturned stone
I want to walk right into the fire
I want to live out all my desires
I want to go and see the fire burn
I want to see and feel my world turn
I want to know what more there's to learn
I want to pass the point of no return
Time will flow
And I will follow
Time will go
But I will follow
Time will flow
And I will follow
Time will go
But I will follow
I want to feel what life's like respond
I want to meet my father beyond
I want to walk right into the light
I want to feel no fear but delight
I want to live my life on my own
I want to lift the unturned stone
I want to walk right into the fire
I want to live out all my desires
Time will flow
And I will follow
Time will go
But I will follow
Time will flow
And I will follow
Time will go
But I will follow
Time will flow
And I will follow
Time will go
But I will follow
The educated fool
So I don't know what it is I'm supposed to do
About this awkward situation
That's been forced down right upon me
As I'm walking down into
On my own into the valley of life
Got a lifetime of experience
Yeah, I've got so much to give
Open the page at chapter one
Could this just be that life's just begun?
Forever within your darker thoughts
Reflecting on everything you've been taught
Never felt this way before
Seems that somebody's just opened the door
To the book of life, or is it death?
Is there ever any way out?
Someone's looking down on me
To the very inner core of my soul
They won't tell me what they see
But I really want to know
I want to live my life on my own
I want to lift the unturned stone
I want to walk right into the fire
I want to live out all my desires
I want to go and see the fire burn
I want to see and feel my world turn
I want to know what more there's to learn
I want to pass the point of no return
Do you really want to be
Just another one statistic?
Or feel that you really should aspire
That you really do deserve more
Do you ever really feel
That you have so much potential inside?
What you really have to give
Could be realized much more
I want to live my life on my own
I want to lift the unturned stone
I want to walk right into the fire
I want to live out all my desires
I want to go and see the fire burn
I want to see and feel my world turn
I want to know what more there's to learn
I want to pass the point of no return
Time will flow
And I will follow
Time will go
But I will follow
Time will flow
And I will follow
Time will go
But I will follow
I want to feel what life's like respond
I want to meet my father beyond
I want to walk right into the light
I want to feel no fear but delight
I want to live my life on my own
I want to lift the unturned stone
I want to walk right into the fire
I want to live out all my desires
Time will flow
And I will follow
Time will go
But I will follow
Time will flow
And I will follow
Time will go
But I will follow
Time will flow
And I will follow
Time will go
But I will follow
The educated fool
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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Great version of a great song,
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It's about bureaucracy exploiting people. Namely, kids.... The US public school system does a major disservice to kids. Ppl are getting fat downtown n in DC. Pour $ in the classroom not some chumps' mattress.