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.
I don't want to spend this Friday night
Like I had to spend last Friday night
I don't want to spend this Friday night
Dying by the record machine
All day, cigarettes
All day, entertain the void
There are so many things I should be doin'
But I don't, and I don't change
All day, kerosene
All day, I play with matchbooks
I pushed them all away or burn them alive
In attempts to save me
Regret would require less arrogance
And I don't want to spend this Friday night
Like I had to spend last Friday night
I don't want to spend this Friday night
Dying by the record machine
I like myself on the following conditions:
That I'm better than the next guy at everything I'm into
And my looks are important if I'm less sophisticated
And my girlfriend's a bombshell now I'm all she's ever dated
And money's an object if it pays for my ego
Power's a drug and pride is the needle
And it rips through my skin, goes into my bloodstream
Oh, I feel like laughing
Ha! I feel like choking on it
Regret would require less arrogance
I don't want to spend this Friday night
Like I had to spend last Friday night
I don't want to spend this Friday night
Dying by the record machine
And I don't want to spend this Friday night
Like I had to spend last Friday night
I don't want to spend this Friday night
Pickin' fights by the record machine
True, but not quite, that I'm tired of the fantasy
And, I see the light, but the dark is so accommodating.
The worst mistake I could make
Is watching you walk away
Now that I know how to change
I do it just the same
I don't want to spend this Friday night
Like I had to spend last Friday night
I don't want to spend this Friday night
Dying by the record machine
I don't want to spend this Friday night
Like I had to spend last Friday night
I don't want to spend this Friday night
Pickin' fights by the record machine
Like I had to spend last Friday night
I don't want to spend this Friday night
Dying by the record machine
All day, cigarettes
All day, entertain the void
There are so many things I should be doin'
But I don't, and I don't change
All day, kerosene
All day, I play with matchbooks
I pushed them all away or burn them alive
In attempts to save me
Regret would require less arrogance
And I don't want to spend this Friday night
Like I had to spend last Friday night
I don't want to spend this Friday night
Dying by the record machine
I like myself on the following conditions:
That I'm better than the next guy at everything I'm into
And my looks are important if I'm less sophisticated
And my girlfriend's a bombshell now I'm all she's ever dated
And money's an object if it pays for my ego
Power's a drug and pride is the needle
And it rips through my skin, goes into my bloodstream
Oh, I feel like laughing
Ha! I feel like choking on it
Regret would require less arrogance
I don't want to spend this Friday night
Like I had to spend last Friday night
I don't want to spend this Friday night
Dying by the record machine
And I don't want to spend this Friday night
Like I had to spend last Friday night
I don't want to spend this Friday night
Pickin' fights by the record machine
True, but not quite, that I'm tired of the fantasy
And, I see the light, but the dark is so accommodating.
The worst mistake I could make
Is watching you walk away
Now that I know how to change
I do it just the same
I don't want to spend this Friday night
Like I had to spend last Friday night
I don't want to spend this Friday night
Dying by the record machine
I don't want to spend this Friday night
Like I had to spend last Friday night
I don't want to spend this Friday night
Pickin' fights by the record machine
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Pretty sweet song. I think it's about a guy who's looking at his life and not liking what he sees. He's arrogant, reckless, but also purposeless. He's good-looking and so is his girlfriend, he's got money, and he's popular, but he's starting to realize that he's missing something... I think he's realizing that he needs Jesus and to turn his life around. That's the missing piece of the puzzle.