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.
We
We were always on the run
From that old witch up the street
In the days when I was young
Ride
Ride our bikes on into town
For some hockey cards and whatever trouble may be found
I can never bring them back
But those days remain inside the very heart of me
My memories are white and black
But the song's the same
It plays in every part of me
Down
Down was only a direction
And sad
Sad was only on TV
And I had faith and I had protection
I can never bring them back
But those days remain inside the very heart of me
My memories are white and black
But the song's the same
It plays in every part of me
I still look back
The summer sun shining
A light was always shining on me
I was gone with the feel of her lips
On my very first kiss
And it seems so long since I left it all behind
In the back of my mind, in the back of my mind
Choking on cigarettes in the park
Chasing my old dog around the yard
Hanging out on the street until dark
And then it's time to go home
I can never bring them back
But those days remain inside the very heart of me
My memories are white and black
But the song's the same
It plays in every part of me
Snow was always falling down
And the sound remains inside the very heart of me
My mother waving from the porch
And the sight of it still plays in every part of me
We were always on the run
From that old witch up the street
In the days when I was young
Ride
Ride our bikes on into town
For some hockey cards and whatever trouble may be found
I can never bring them back
But those days remain inside the very heart of me
My memories are white and black
But the song's the same
It plays in every part of me
Down
Down was only a direction
And sad
Sad was only on TV
And I had faith and I had protection
I can never bring them back
But those days remain inside the very heart of me
My memories are white and black
But the song's the same
It plays in every part of me
I still look back
The summer sun shining
A light was always shining on me
I was gone with the feel of her lips
On my very first kiss
And it seems so long since I left it all behind
In the back of my mind, in the back of my mind
Choking on cigarettes in the park
Chasing my old dog around the yard
Hanging out on the street until dark
And then it's time to go home
I can never bring them back
But those days remain inside the very heart of me
My memories are white and black
But the song's the same
It plays in every part of me
Snow was always falling down
And the sound remains inside the very heart of me
My mother waving from the porch
And the sight of it still plays in every part of me
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