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.
My friend's a computer hacker
But in school everybody said he was a slacker
He writes science fiction novels
He builds whole towns and villages from cola bottles
He does equations just for fun
Eats low carb ice cream with his Mum
Sews Cub Scout badges on his sweater
He's just a feeling you ignore
A dumb computer hacker
Trash can on the floor
A pitiful disaster
Cried to sleep at night
When he never got it right
'cause he never realized
It doesn't even matter
Later on in life
He's drowning in his laughter
Three kids and a wife
He's happy ever after
Stoked to be alive
With his dream up at NASA
Loving everyday
Well, I guess it really pays to be a slacker
He stays up all night playing Tetris
Asteroids, Pacman written on his 'games to get' list
Wasted nights spent up in his bedroom
Tough times, long nights
Must have been a lot to get through
He's getting sharp pains in his wrist
In his world girlfriend's don't exist
Can't even get an ad on 'My Space'
(poor guy)
He's just a feeling you ignore
A dumb computer hacker
Trash can on the floor
A pitiful disaster
Cried to sleep at night
When he never got it right
'Cause he never realized
It doesn't even matter
Later on in life
He's drowning in his laughter
Three kids and a wife
He's happy ever after
Stoked to be alive
With his dream up at NASA
Loving everyday
Well, I guess it really pays to be a slacker
He's the one all alone in despair
He's the one who thinks life isn't fair
He's the one sitting right over there
He's the lonely guy on the side
Looking kinda shy
You could see him ride
Passing by on a pedal bike
He's the funny type
Kinda like 'Napoleon Dynamite'
He's just a feeling you ignore
A dumb computer hacker
Trash can on the floor
A pitiful disaster
Cried to sleep at night
When he never got it right
'Cause he never realized
It doesn't even matter
Later on in life
He's drowning in his laughter
Three kids and a wife
He's happy ever after
Stoked to be alive
With his dream up at NASA
Loving everyday
Well, I guess it really pays to be a slacker
It pays to be a slacker!
(And that's the truth)
But in school everybody said he was a slacker
He writes science fiction novels
He builds whole towns and villages from cola bottles
He does equations just for fun
Eats low carb ice cream with his Mum
Sews Cub Scout badges on his sweater
He's just a feeling you ignore
A dumb computer hacker
Trash can on the floor
A pitiful disaster
Cried to sleep at night
When he never got it right
'cause he never realized
It doesn't even matter
Later on in life
He's drowning in his laughter
Three kids and a wife
He's happy ever after
Stoked to be alive
With his dream up at NASA
Loving everyday
Well, I guess it really pays to be a slacker
He stays up all night playing Tetris
Asteroids, Pacman written on his 'games to get' list
Wasted nights spent up in his bedroom
Tough times, long nights
Must have been a lot to get through
He's getting sharp pains in his wrist
In his world girlfriend's don't exist
Can't even get an ad on 'My Space'
(poor guy)
He's just a feeling you ignore
A dumb computer hacker
Trash can on the floor
A pitiful disaster
Cried to sleep at night
When he never got it right
'Cause he never realized
It doesn't even matter
Later on in life
He's drowning in his laughter
Three kids and a wife
He's happy ever after
Stoked to be alive
With his dream up at NASA
Loving everyday
Well, I guess it really pays to be a slacker
He's the one all alone in despair
He's the one who thinks life isn't fair
He's the one sitting right over there
He's the lonely guy on the side
Looking kinda shy
You could see him ride
Passing by on a pedal bike
He's the funny type
Kinda like 'Napoleon Dynamite'
He's just a feeling you ignore
A dumb computer hacker
Trash can on the floor
A pitiful disaster
Cried to sleep at night
When he never got it right
'Cause he never realized
It doesn't even matter
Later on in life
He's drowning in his laughter
Three kids and a wife
He's happy ever after
Stoked to be alive
With his dream up at NASA
Loving everyday
Well, I guess it really pays to be a slacker
It pays to be a slacker!
(And that's the truth)
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