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 get my whiskey from a well, except on holidays
Then it's the top shelf
But tonight I don't mind if I spend a little more
Cause you're a tolerant woman and the world is at war
I know you witnessed my decline
You used to push back the darkness like a floodlight
But tonight that's a secret, like the soul of a whore
That if you want to have fun you'll just have to ignore
Now I let my troubles solve themselves
I used to get involved, but I'm just no help
But tonight let's pretend that we're just like we were
Let me stay until the morning, I will sleep on the floor
We can talk in circles, no dollar figures
Just what is owed or paid. We can make predictions
I know you see the future and I agree
We agree, tonight's not happening
When I got dry as a desert, I got mean
I was lonely and empty as a canteen
With no anesthetic you're found to be sore
But tonight I am drinking, all peaceful and warm
And just when I got fed up with the grey sky
The sun came out of nowhere like a bar fight
And it knocked out the wind and it bruised me with light
and I felt grateful for living like I feel tonight
Well, I know you feel safer in a group
Where you could be anyone or they could be you
But tonight, we'll take risks that you can afford
You still have bars on your windows and a hole in your doo
We can talk in circles around the dirty mirrors
Night trickles down our throats
And we can make a time line to last our whole lives
But we don't know, no one knows
What's further up the road
Just wait and see
All in time
Then it's the top shelf
But tonight I don't mind if I spend a little more
Cause you're a tolerant woman and the world is at war
I know you witnessed my decline
You used to push back the darkness like a floodlight
But tonight that's a secret, like the soul of a whore
That if you want to have fun you'll just have to ignore
Now I let my troubles solve themselves
I used to get involved, but I'm just no help
But tonight let's pretend that we're just like we were
Let me stay until the morning, I will sleep on the floor
We can talk in circles, no dollar figures
Just what is owed or paid. We can make predictions
I know you see the future and I agree
We agree, tonight's not happening
When I got dry as a desert, I got mean
I was lonely and empty as a canteen
With no anesthetic you're found to be sore
But tonight I am drinking, all peaceful and warm
And just when I got fed up with the grey sky
The sun came out of nowhere like a bar fight
And it knocked out the wind and it bruised me with light
and I felt grateful for living like I feel tonight
Well, I know you feel safer in a group
Where you could be anyone or they could be you
But tonight, we'll take risks that you can afford
You still have bars on your windows and a hole in your doo
We can talk in circles around the dirty mirrors
Night trickles down our throats
And we can make a time line to last our whole lives
But we don't know, no one knows
What's further up the road
Just wait and see
All in time
Lyrics submitted by keely, edited by TheGameNeededMe
Well Whiskey Lyrics as written by Oberst
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Yessiree> Our throat?