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 want a normal life
Just like a newborn child
I am a lover, hater
I am an instigator
You are an oversight
Don't try to compromise
I learn to love to hate it
I am not integrated
Just call my name
You'll be okay
Your scream is burning through my veins
Sooner or later
You're gonna hate it
Go ahead and throw your life away
Driving me under
Leaving me out there
Go ahead and throw your life away
You're like an infantile
I knew it all the while
You sit and try to play me
Just like you see on TV
I am an oversight
Just like a parasite
Why am I so pathetic?
I know you won't forget it
Just call my name
You'll be okay
Your scream is burning through my veins
Sooner or later
You're gonna hate it
Go ahead and throw my life away
Driving me under
Leaving me out there
Go ahead and throw my life away
Sooner or later
You're gonna hate it
Go ahead and throw our life away
Driving me under
Leaving me out there
Go ahead and throw our life away
Throw our life away, ooh
Throw our life away
Just like a newborn child
I am a lover, hater
I am an instigator
You are an oversight
Don't try to compromise
I learn to love to hate it
I am not integrated
Just call my name
You'll be okay
Your scream is burning through my veins
Sooner or later
You're gonna hate it
Go ahead and throw your life away
Driving me under
Leaving me out there
Go ahead and throw your life away
You're like an infantile
I knew it all the while
You sit and try to play me
Just like you see on TV
I am an oversight
Just like a parasite
Why am I so pathetic?
I know you won't forget it
Just call my name
You'll be okay
Your scream is burning through my veins
Sooner or later
You're gonna hate it
Go ahead and throw my life away
Driving me under
Leaving me out there
Go ahead and throw my life away
Sooner or later
You're gonna hate it
Go ahead and throw our life away
Driving me under
Leaving me out there
Go ahead and throw our life away
Throw our life away, ooh
Throw our life away
Lyrics submitted by thewhitepony33, edited by TheCirius
Sooner Or Later Lyrics as written by Aaron Fincke Benjamin Burnley
Lyrics © Walt Disney Music Company
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I feel like this song is about a couple that used to be so in love, but the girl has started falling for someone else, cheated, and has broken up with her original boyfriend. the lines, "I am a lover-hater" and "I learn to love to hate it" feel to me like he is bitter now, because the one person who probably promised she'd never leave has completely changed. This is my interpretation of the lines: "just call my name, you'll be ok,"-he knows that even though she doesn't love him anymore, he knows her better than anyone, and he still cares. This is him being the bigger man, saying "even though you've hurt me, just tell me, and i will do all i can to help. "your screams are burning through my veins" -she's hurting yourself by running off with this other guy, but she did it to herself, so now he must stand idly by and watch her go down in flames. He knows he can help, but he knows he shouldn't. "sooner or later, you're gonna hate it."-this is him pretending to be indifferent about her leaving, to upset her, but he only ACTS this way. "you're like an infantile I knew it all the while."- now comes the rage. He is angry about how she has hurt him, and left him when they both promised they'd be together for ever. He is lashing out, trying to hurt her. I also feel that this is the meaning of the progression of "your life, my life, our life"; Your life-at first he is in shock and disbelief, saying "you're going to throw your life in the trash, do t you understand what you are doing??"
My life- he is angry now, and feels wrong, "you're not just throwing away your life, but mine too!!"
Our life- he has begun to accept that, stupid decision or not, she has made a decision, and she isn't coming back. It's not even anger anymore, he knows that one day she will realize that she has screwed up by leaving him.