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 looked for trouble and found it son
Straight down the barrel of a lawman’s gun
I’d try to run but I don’t think I can
If I move I’m a dead man
Ain’t livin’ long like this
I can’t live at all like this can I baby
He slipped the cuffs on behind my back
Then left me freezing on a steel rail rack
They got ‘em all in the jailhouse don’t they baby
I ain’t livin’ long like this
Can’t live at all like this can I baby
Grew up in Houston off a wayside drive
Son of a carhop in an all-night dive
He drove a stock car to an early death
All I remember is a drunk man’s breath
Ain’t livin’ long like this
I can’t live at all like this can I baby
We know the story how the wheel goes ‘round
Don’t let ‘em take you to the man downtown
I can’t sleep at all in the jailhouse can I baby
Ain’t livin’ long like this
I can’t live at all like this can I baby
I live for Angel she’s the roadhouse queen
Make Texas Ruby look like Sandra Dee
I want to love her but I don’t know how
I’m at the bottom of the jailhouse now
Ain’t livin’ long like this
I can’t live at all like this can I baby
You know the story ‘bout the jailhouse rock
Go on and do it just don’t get caught
They got ‘em all in the jailhouse don’t they baby
Ain’t livin’ long like this
I can’t live at all like this can I baby
Ain’t livin’ long like this
I swear I can’t live at all like this can I baby
Oh baby
Take it home for me
Ain’t livin’ long like this am I baby
Straight down the barrel of a lawman’s gun
I’d try to run but I don’t think I can
If I move I’m a dead man
Ain’t livin’ long like this
I can’t live at all like this can I baby
He slipped the cuffs on behind my back
Then left me freezing on a steel rail rack
They got ‘em all in the jailhouse don’t they baby
I ain’t livin’ long like this
Can’t live at all like this can I baby
Grew up in Houston off a wayside drive
Son of a carhop in an all-night dive
He drove a stock car to an early death
All I remember is a drunk man’s breath
Ain’t livin’ long like this
I can’t live at all like this can I baby
We know the story how the wheel goes ‘round
Don’t let ‘em take you to the man downtown
I can’t sleep at all in the jailhouse can I baby
Ain’t livin’ long like this
I can’t live at all like this can I baby
I live for Angel she’s the roadhouse queen
Make Texas Ruby look like Sandra Dee
I want to love her but I don’t know how
I’m at the bottom of the jailhouse now
Ain’t livin’ long like this
I can’t live at all like this can I baby
You know the story ‘bout the jailhouse rock
Go on and do it just don’t get caught
They got ‘em all in the jailhouse don’t they baby
Ain’t livin’ long like this
I can’t live at all like this can I baby
Ain’t livin’ long like this
I swear I can’t live at all like this can I baby
Oh baby
Take it home for me
Ain’t livin’ long like this am I baby
Lyrics submitted by KungFuChica
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