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.
This is where I am
This is who I am
Some will say conditioned
Some will say naïve
This is where I am
This is who I am
Some will soon fall victim
To the things that used to relieve
Their minds of aching pressure
Their bones of tension wrought
We’ve entered into pitfalls
Knowing full well that we would be caught
But it seems so easy here
To forget that we’re not on our own
But we can’t escape this
These people we follow
These laws they create and condone
I’ll do what you did before me
I’ll follow close your lead
I’ll make excuses for you
And stumble till I bleed
My knees rubbed raw from crawling
And begging for a chance
To live a life unlike yours
This is where I am
This is who I am
They will scream conditioned
And you will feel naïve
It’s hard to take this and stand my ground
But it’s needed now and it’s not just for my sake
Why am I so shaky?
How are you so strong?
Stranger things have happened
We all have nightmares
But some follow us into day
With all the lights out
And all the doors locked
We’ll see how tough I am
With all the lights out
And all the doors locked
I only have faith in his name
I’ll do what you did before me
I’ll follow close your lead
I’ll make excuses for you
And stumble till I bleed
My knees rubbed raw from crawling
And begging for a chance
To live a life unlike yours
One full of pure romance
This is way too much for you to tackle now
Come back after lunch relaxed and full
With a fresh mind
Who knows what odd ideas
Could come to you
When you’re shut up all alone in there
Alone in there with all your books
Step outside
And get a healthy dose
Get a healthy dose of what I call real life
You can follow me down
Follow me down
You can follow me down now
You can follow me down
Follow me down
You can follow me down
Follow me down now
You can follow me down
Follow me down
You can follow me down
Follow me down now
And the newsboy screams midday now
And the 73 drives by you
And the 73 drives by you
And the
News
Boy
Screams
Midday
The 73 drives by you
And the 73 drives by you
This is where I am
This is who I am
This is where I am
This is who I am
I’ll do what you did before me
I’ll follow close your lead
I’ll make excuses for you
And stumble till I bleed
My knees rubbed raw from crawling
And begging for a chance
To live a life unlike yours
This is who I am
Some will say conditioned
Some will say naïve
This is where I am
This is who I am
Some will soon fall victim
To the things that used to relieve
Their minds of aching pressure
Their bones of tension wrought
We’ve entered into pitfalls
Knowing full well that we would be caught
But it seems so easy here
To forget that we’re not on our own
But we can’t escape this
These people we follow
These laws they create and condone
I’ll do what you did before me
I’ll follow close your lead
I’ll make excuses for you
And stumble till I bleed
My knees rubbed raw from crawling
And begging for a chance
To live a life unlike yours
This is where I am
This is who I am
They will scream conditioned
And you will feel naïve
It’s hard to take this and stand my ground
But it’s needed now and it’s not just for my sake
Why am I so shaky?
How are you so strong?
Stranger things have happened
We all have nightmares
But some follow us into day
With all the lights out
And all the doors locked
We’ll see how tough I am
With all the lights out
And all the doors locked
I only have faith in his name
I’ll do what you did before me
I’ll follow close your lead
I’ll make excuses for you
And stumble till I bleed
My knees rubbed raw from crawling
And begging for a chance
To live a life unlike yours
One full of pure romance
This is way too much for you to tackle now
Come back after lunch relaxed and full
With a fresh mind
Who knows what odd ideas
Could come to you
When you’re shut up all alone in there
Alone in there with all your books
Step outside
And get a healthy dose
Get a healthy dose of what I call real life
You can follow me down
Follow me down
You can follow me down now
You can follow me down
Follow me down
You can follow me down
Follow me down now
You can follow me down
Follow me down
You can follow me down
Follow me down now
And the newsboy screams midday now
And the 73 drives by you
And the 73 drives by you
And the
News
Boy
Screams
Midday
The 73 drives by you
And the 73 drives by you
This is where I am
This is who I am
This is where I am
This is who I am
I’ll do what you did before me
I’ll follow close your lead
I’ll make excuses for you
And stumble till I bleed
My knees rubbed raw from crawling
And begging for a chance
To live a life unlike yours
Lyrics submitted by Kyo000
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