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.
(Child) This is the world through square eyes,
I can see fiction like it's real
Window to an unknown paradise
A paradise where no one sees
I wish I saw it all,
A paradise where no one knows,
all these images for real, the reality
It's a seduction, like a dream
I can feel pain, I feel the blood
Out of your hands but in your minds
The fire of the burning fight
I wish I saw it all, I feel love as a disease,
all these images for real, in my fantasy
(Contemplative) Good or evil, right or wrong
Find yourself between the dying crowd, the blooded streets
How can't this affect a mind
How can't this affect a pure, young heart
(Child) In my own world it's getting worse
It's never good enough for them
Learn this, do that, do as we say
As if results are all there is
It doesn't affect me much, I cannot be more than I am,
the screen shows me enough, face reality
I can play I'm strong and tough
And let them feel who should be blamed
Fighting and killing for new lives
A way to learn how to survive
I can play on and on, it ends up just the same again
but my life is not a game, life should be a game
(Contemplative) Good or evil, right or wrong
Find yourself between the dying crowd, the blooded streets
How can't this affect a mind
How can't this affect a pure, young heart
(Child) Hope is fragile,
and all there is to make them see I'm not that bad
Hope is the last reason not to flee, not to run away
into the tempting square world of fantasy, free me
Oh, free me
Hate is an impulse
Your aversion, my reason
(Contemplative) Games, movies, things a child should not see
A flash; see, but you won't forget
A game; play, play and hear and see, again
It marks the heart and spills our youth
(Child) I'm in the world of square minds
The beauty of a clearer world
Fighting a game, its name is life
The game of life is hard to fight
I've shot my hate today, you'll know the causes when it's too late
its embodiment has paid, feel reality
The pictures say more than you see
Why should I see what you've told me
Nothing gets worse, it stays the same
The same is killing, anyway
I wish I saw it all, so could you please let me escape
all these images for real from reality
(Contemplative) Good or evil, right or wrong
Find yourself between the dying crowd, the blooded streets
How can't this affect a mind
How can't this affect a pure, young heart?
I can see fiction like it's real
Window to an unknown paradise
A paradise where no one sees
I wish I saw it all,
A paradise where no one knows,
all these images for real, the reality
It's a seduction, like a dream
I can feel pain, I feel the blood
Out of your hands but in your minds
The fire of the burning fight
I wish I saw it all, I feel love as a disease,
all these images for real, in my fantasy
(Contemplative) Good or evil, right or wrong
Find yourself between the dying crowd, the blooded streets
How can't this affect a mind
How can't this affect a pure, young heart
(Child) In my own world it's getting worse
It's never good enough for them
Learn this, do that, do as we say
As if results are all there is
It doesn't affect me much, I cannot be more than I am,
the screen shows me enough, face reality
I can play I'm strong and tough
And let them feel who should be blamed
Fighting and killing for new lives
A way to learn how to survive
I can play on and on, it ends up just the same again
but my life is not a game, life should be a game
(Contemplative) Good or evil, right or wrong
Find yourself between the dying crowd, the blooded streets
How can't this affect a mind
How can't this affect a pure, young heart
(Child) Hope is fragile,
and all there is to make them see I'm not that bad
Hope is the last reason not to flee, not to run away
into the tempting square world of fantasy, free me
Oh, free me
Hate is an impulse
Your aversion, my reason
(Contemplative) Games, movies, things a child should not see
A flash; see, but you won't forget
A game; play, play and hear and see, again
It marks the heart and spills our youth
(Child) I'm in the world of square minds
The beauty of a clearer world
Fighting a game, its name is life
The game of life is hard to fight
I've shot my hate today, you'll know the causes when it's too late
its embodiment has paid, feel reality
The pictures say more than you see
Why should I see what you've told me
Nothing gets worse, it stays the same
The same is killing, anyway
I wish I saw it all, so could you please let me escape
all these images for real from reality
(Contemplative) Good or evil, right or wrong
Find yourself between the dying crowd, the blooded streets
How can't this affect a mind
How can't this affect a pure, young heart?
Lyrics submitted by Donka
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