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.
A very good friend of mine
Told me something the other day
I'd like to pass it on to you
'Cause I believe what he said to be true
He said we're here for a good time
Not a long time (not a long time)
So have a good time
The sun can't shine every day
And the sun is shinin' in this rainy city
And the sun is shinin', ooh, isn't it a pity
And every year has its share of tears
And every now and then it's gotta rain
We're here for a good time
Not a long time
So have a good time
The sun can't shine every day
And the sun is shinin' in this rainy city
And the sun is shinin', ooh, isn't it a pity
And every year has its share of tears
And every now and then it's gotta rain
We're here for a good time
Not a long time
So have a good time
The sun can't shine every day (sun can't shine every day)
We're here for a good time (here for a good time)
Not a long time (not a long time)
So have a good time (have a good time)
The sun can't shine every day (the sun can't shine every day)
(The sun can't shine) We're here for a good time (we're here for a good time)
Not a long time (not a long, not a long time)
So have a good time (have a good time)
The sun can't shine every day
(The sun can't, the sun can't shine, the sun can't shine)
So have a good time (have a good time)
The sun can't shine every day (the sun can't shine every day)
We're here for a good time
Not a long time (not a long time)
So have a good time (have a good time)
The sun can't shine every day (I know, I know, I know)
We're here for a good time (we're here for a good time)
Not a long time (not a long, long, long, long, long time)
So have a good time
The sun can't shine every day
Told me something the other day
I'd like to pass it on to you
'Cause I believe what he said to be true
He said we're here for a good time
Not a long time (not a long time)
So have a good time
The sun can't shine every day
And the sun is shinin' in this rainy city
And the sun is shinin', ooh, isn't it a pity
And every year has its share of tears
And every now and then it's gotta rain
We're here for a good time
Not a long time
So have a good time
The sun can't shine every day
And the sun is shinin' in this rainy city
And the sun is shinin', ooh, isn't it a pity
And every year has its share of tears
And every now and then it's gotta rain
We're here for a good time
Not a long time
So have a good time
The sun can't shine every day (sun can't shine every day)
We're here for a good time (here for a good time)
Not a long time (not a long time)
So have a good time (have a good time)
The sun can't shine every day (the sun can't shine every day)
(The sun can't shine) We're here for a good time (we're here for a good time)
Not a long time (not a long, not a long time)
So have a good time (have a good time)
The sun can't shine every day
(The sun can't, the sun can't shine, the sun can't shine)
So have a good time (have a good time)
The sun can't shine every day (the sun can't shine every day)
We're here for a good time
Not a long time (not a long time)
So have a good time (have a good time)
The sun can't shine every day (I know, I know, I know)
We're here for a good time (we're here for a good time)
Not a long time (not a long, long, long, long, long time)
So have a good time
The sun can't shine every day
Lyrics submitted by jayla_7777
We're Here for a Good Time (Not a Long Time) Lyrics as written by Raymond Mcguire Brian Smith
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Self explainitory, but I'll give it a go for those that lack certain mental compacities... :)
This song is quite basically about having a good time with the time you've got. You aren't going to live forever, so don't take your life too seriously. Have fun while you can, because this is the life you get.
The life will be full of low points where you'll spend a lot of time crying. You have to see through these times, view them as a wall, and have that good time you need to have. There really is no reason not to have a good time, as nothing lasts forever.
So have a good time. Because the sun certainly can't shine every day.
WhenI worked at a restaurant as a kid, an aussie chef used to get really angry when this song came on.
"You don't know what it REALLY means, people don't know what it fen means, they think its so fen happy but its NOT!!", he'd claim, almost to the point he'd cry.
When we'd ask what, he'd turn a shade of red, like he was ready to murder us with the chef's knife he was holding, and he'd yell, "What the f! Don't make me repeat it you stupid fen child!". It was at this point we have up, but I still don't know what this could possibly mean...
Does anyone know what year this song was written? Also is there any information on who the friend was that said the line???? My father passed away young and I was told he partied with trooper back in the day. A relative said my father said this saying and I have often wondered. This saying was instilled to me from a young age amongst others just curious to find out for sure.
Okay I found the year. Does anyone know of this friend that said the saying lived in Thunder Bay Ontario?
@Mouseamanda299 I was privileged to chat with Ra McGuire of Trooper one day and I asked him if there was a story behind this song. He told me that going into the recording studio one day a friend noticed that he was stressed and asked him about it. Ra explained that he was stressed about coming up with material for his third album. And his friend told him that he shouldn't worry about it, that "we're here for a good time, not a long time." And the rest is musical history. I believe Ra said that the friend in question was his driver at the time.