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.
The Modern with the warrior
The mean with the stride
The Tom with the sawyer
And the mean, mean, mean, mean pride.
And though his mind is not for rent,
Don't put him down as arrogant.
His reserve, a quiet defence,
Riding out the day's events.
The river
What you say about his company
Is what you say about society.
Catch the mist mist, catch the myth-myth
Catch the mystery, catch the drift-drift.
The world is the world is,
Love and life are deep,
Maybe as his eyes are wide.
The Tom with the sawyer
With the eye on the you,
the space he invades
He gets by by by by
No his mind is not for rent
To any God or government.
Always hopeful, yet discontent,
He knows changes aren't permanent,
But change is.
And what you say about his company
Is what you say about society.
Catch the witness, catch the wit-wit,
Catch the spirit, catch the spit-spit.
The world is the world is,
Love and life are deep,
Maybe as his skies are wide.
Exit the warrior,
The Tom with the sawyer,
The eye on the you,
Energy trade
Right on to,
The friction of the day.
The mean with the stride
The Tom with the sawyer
And the mean, mean, mean, mean pride.
And though his mind is not for rent,
Don't put him down as arrogant.
His reserve, a quiet defence,
Riding out the day's events.
The river
What you say about his company
Is what you say about society.
Catch the mist mist, catch the myth-myth
Catch the mystery, catch the drift-drift.
The world is the world is,
Love and life are deep,
Maybe as his eyes are wide.
The Tom with the sawyer
With the eye on the you,
the space he invades
He gets by by by by
No his mind is not for rent
To any God or government.
Always hopeful, yet discontent,
He knows changes aren't permanent,
But change is.
And what you say about his company
Is what you say about society.
Catch the witness, catch the wit-wit,
Catch the spirit, catch the spit-spit.
The world is the world is,
Love and life are deep,
Maybe as his skies are wide.
Exit the warrior,
The Tom with the sawyer,
The eye on the you,
Energy trade
Right on to,
The friction of the day.
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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the cover is an ingenius juxtapositon