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.
Sometimes in life you feel the fight is over
And it seems as though the writings on the wall
Superstar, you finally made it
But once your picture becomes tainted
It's what they call
The rise and fall
Sometimes in life you feel the fight is over (over)
And it seems as though the writings on the wall (yeah)
Superstar, you finally made it
But once your picture becomes tainted
It's what they call
The rise and fall
I always said that I was gonna make it
Now it's plain for everyone to see
But this game I'm in don't take no prisoners
Just casualties
I know that everything is gonna change
Even the friends I knew before may go
But this dream is the life I've been searching for
Started believing that I was the greatest
My life was never gonna be the same
'Cause with the money came a different status
That's when things change
Now I'm too concerned with all the things I own
Blinded by all the pretty girls I see
I'm beginning to lose my integrity
Sometimes in life you feel the fight is over (over)
And it seems as though the writings on the wall (yeah)
Superstar, you finally made it
But once your picture becomes tainted
It's what they call
The rise and fall
I never used to be a troublemaker
Now I don't even wanna please the fans
No autographs, no interviews, no pictures
And less demands
Gave in to vices that were clearly wrong
The types that seem to make me feel so right
But some things you may find can take over your life
Burnt all my bridges now I've run out of places
And there's nowhere left for me to turn
Been caught in compromising situations
I should have learned
From all those times I didn't walk away
When I knew that it was best to go
Is it too late to show you the shape of my heart
Sometimes in life you feel the fight is over (over)
And it seems as though the writings on the wall (yeah)
Superstar, you finally made it
But once your picture becomes tainted
It's what they call
The rise and fall
Now I know (now I know)
I made mistakes (made mistakes)
Think I don't care?
But you don't realize what this means to me
So let me have
Just one more chance
I'm not the man I used to be
Used to be
Sometimes in life you feel the fight is over (over)
And it seems as though the writings on the wall (yeah)
Superstar, you finally made it
But once your picture becomes tainted
It's what they call
The rise and fall
Sometimes in life you feel the fight is over (over)
But it seems as though the writings on the wall (yeah)
Superstar, you finally made it
But once your picture becomes tainted
It's what they call
The rise and fall
Sometimes in life you feel the fight is over
And it seems as though the writings on the wall
Superstar, you finally made it
But once your picture becomes tainted
It's what they call
The rise and fall
And it seems as though the writings on the wall
Superstar, you finally made it
But once your picture becomes tainted
It's what they call
The rise and fall
Sometimes in life you feel the fight is over (over)
And it seems as though the writings on the wall (yeah)
Superstar, you finally made it
But once your picture becomes tainted
It's what they call
The rise and fall
I always said that I was gonna make it
Now it's plain for everyone to see
But this game I'm in don't take no prisoners
Just casualties
I know that everything is gonna change
Even the friends I knew before may go
But this dream is the life I've been searching for
Started believing that I was the greatest
My life was never gonna be the same
'Cause with the money came a different status
That's when things change
Now I'm too concerned with all the things I own
Blinded by all the pretty girls I see
I'm beginning to lose my integrity
Sometimes in life you feel the fight is over (over)
And it seems as though the writings on the wall (yeah)
Superstar, you finally made it
But once your picture becomes tainted
It's what they call
The rise and fall
I never used to be a troublemaker
Now I don't even wanna please the fans
No autographs, no interviews, no pictures
And less demands
Gave in to vices that were clearly wrong
The types that seem to make me feel so right
But some things you may find can take over your life
Burnt all my bridges now I've run out of places
And there's nowhere left for me to turn
Been caught in compromising situations
I should have learned
From all those times I didn't walk away
When I knew that it was best to go
Is it too late to show you the shape of my heart
Sometimes in life you feel the fight is over (over)
And it seems as though the writings on the wall (yeah)
Superstar, you finally made it
But once your picture becomes tainted
It's what they call
The rise and fall
Now I know (now I know)
I made mistakes (made mistakes)
Think I don't care?
But you don't realize what this means to me
So let me have
Just one more chance
I'm not the man I used to be
Used to be
Sometimes in life you feel the fight is over (over)
And it seems as though the writings on the wall (yeah)
Superstar, you finally made it
But once your picture becomes tainted
It's what they call
The rise and fall
Sometimes in life you feel the fight is over (over)
But it seems as though the writings on the wall (yeah)
Superstar, you finally made it
But once your picture becomes tainted
It's what they call
The rise and fall
Sometimes in life you feel the fight is over
And it seems as though the writings on the wall
Superstar, you finally made it
But once your picture becomes tainted
It's what they call
The rise and fall
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
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Well i rele like this song!