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.
Just look at the comfort that you call your home,
Just kidding yourself that you're never alone,
Well, maybe there's something, there’s one thing you shouldn't have said,
So, you better beware.
And you better get, and you better get, light in your head
And you better get, and you better get, peace in your bed.
If you wanna get, if you wanna get high…..
You're watching the movie go blistering by
Just look at the sadness, I wish I could cry,
Well, maybe there's something, there’s one thing that I should have said
Well, it better be said
Is the beckoning, is the reckoning gold in your heart,
Is beginning to, is beginning to squeeze you apart.
Don't you wanna get, don't you wanna get high?
But you're holding the world in the palm of your hand,
What you telling your children you don't understand
If you know what the meaning is, if you what the meaning is,
If you know what the meaning is, if you what the meaning is,
If you know what the meaning is, if you what the meaning is,
If you know what the meaning is, if you what the meaning is,
Meaning is, meaning is, meaning is……
Ah- you better beware,
And you better get, and you better get light in your head,
And you better get, and you better get peace in your bed;
If you wanna get, if you wanna get high
Just look at the madness that glows in your eyes,
To frighten your children will steal your disguise,
If you know what the meaning is, if you what the meaning is,
If you know what the meaning is, if you what the meaning is,
If you know what the meaning is, if you what the meaning is,
If you know what the answer is, if you what the answer is,
If you know what the answer is, if you what the answer is,
If you know what the meaning is, if you what the meaning is,
If you know what the meaning is, if you what the meaning is…
…know what the meaning is….
Lyrics submitted by Philosophy, edited by Sunnyhill
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man another classic by Supertramp. From what ive liked in the lyrics i always thought it was about an anti-social man who suffers from holding in so long. Even rejecting the drugs that is offered to him in the lines "Dont you wanna get, dont you wanna get high ?" because it wont help and makes matters worst. I can relate to this song. I'm a loner myself and kinda anti-social and i dont need to get high on pot to escape my problems. Because like the song, yes the record has holding my heart.