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.
Were you born without a thought or cause, yet alone a care? I know damn well that it's hard to sell a book or class. The mess we're in - I want to know how we got here? How the hell have we got here? Someone just give us hope. Rescue us. Rescue us from the kids in their homes who won't speak to us. They just laugh at us saying "Why bother learning - it just gets you nowhere. We're asleep through schooling because the books they weren't worth reading. Why bother listening, when it's lies repeated?" This is the age of no feeling. All we're trying to do is make some sense of a TV set - a face to respect, albeit hardly dressed. Only the modern time, I'll have to say what the public wants is what it gets. What it wants is what it will get. Someone just give us hope. Rescue us. Rescue us from the kids in their homes who won't speak to us. They just laugh at us saying "Why bother learning - it just gets you nowhere. We're asleep through schooling because the books they weren't worth reading. Yeah, why bother voting, when we know they're cheating?" This is the age of no feeling. Why bother learning? Why bother reading? Well then why bother speaking? Why bother breathing? Yeah, why bother at all.
Lyrics submitted by walkingonawire
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Good song.