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.
Wearing a raincoat is flying around in a plane
Made of a raincoat
But when you think of that
You hurt your mind
And you'll need a friend
To talk you down
Needing a friend to talk you down
Is food that comes from a pipe
But when you hate the food
That comes from a pipe
You will turn to drugs
To help you sleep
Turning to drugs to help you sleep
Will only lead to sleep
And sleeping is a gateway drug
To being awake, being awake, being awake again
Being awake is swimming around in a lake
Of the undead
And the undead are like
A bunch of friends
That demand constant attention
Demanding constant attention
Will only lead to attention
And once they have your attention
They use it to ask for attention
And once they have that attention
They use it to ask for attention
Wearing a raincoat is flying around in a yellow rubber airplane
Made out of a raincoat, yes but when you think of that
You hurt your mind
And you'll need your mind
For later on
Needing a mind for later on
Is a friend that comes at a price
But when you hate the friend
That comes at a price
You will play the drums
To help you sleep
Made of a raincoat
But when you think of that
You hurt your mind
And you'll need a friend
To talk you down
Needing a friend to talk you down
Is food that comes from a pipe
But when you hate the food
That comes from a pipe
You will turn to drugs
To help you sleep
Turning to drugs to help you sleep
Will only lead to sleep
And sleeping is a gateway drug
To being awake, being awake, being awake again
Being awake is swimming around in a lake
Of the undead
And the undead are like
A bunch of friends
That demand constant attention
Demanding constant attention
Will only lead to attention
And once they have your attention
They use it to ask for attention
And once they have that attention
They use it to ask for attention
Wearing a raincoat is flying around in a yellow rubber airplane
Made out of a raincoat, yes but when you think of that
You hurt your mind
And you'll need your mind
For later on
Needing a mind for later on
Is a friend that comes at a price
But when you hate the friend
That comes at a price
You will play the drums
To help you sleep
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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I love it. A self-perpetuating song. One of the most lyrically playful TMBG songs to date.