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.
Things are going on behind me, great things
On the shoulders of nothing
Oh, these things are going on beneath me
But I, I just keep walking on, my friend
Ooh, my friend
I don't need no wake-up call
Can't read the writing on the walls
Too busy with my Demerol
Too busy to exist at all
And this world is tilting
Who knows where?
With things I always knew were there
But never got to reach that high
While I was getting high
Above, the day turns pink
The change inside my pockets clinks
Never enough to get that far
Just me and my burnt out guitar, my friend
Ooh, my friend
There's no one I can blame but me
I'm all alone on ecstasy
I wonder why my itching skin
Won't open up to let you in
And this world is tilting
Who knows where?
With things I always knew were there
But never got to reach that high
While I was getting high
Lau, la, la, la
Na naa nana na
La da na na na
La da na naaa
La na na
La da, nah
My friend
Ooh, my friend
I know that I'll look back and say,
"Why did I piss it all away?"
But if I fall, just let me fall
Too busy to exist at all
And this world is tilting
Who knows where?
With things I always knew were there
But never got to reach that high
While I was getting high
On the shoulders of nothing
Oh, these things are going on beneath me
But I, I just keep walking on, my friend
Ooh, my friend
I don't need no wake-up call
Can't read the writing on the walls
Too busy with my Demerol
Too busy to exist at all
And this world is tilting
Who knows where?
With things I always knew were there
But never got to reach that high
While I was getting high
Above, the day turns pink
The change inside my pockets clinks
Never enough to get that far
Just me and my burnt out guitar, my friend
Ooh, my friend
There's no one I can blame but me
I'm all alone on ecstasy
I wonder why my itching skin
Won't open up to let you in
And this world is tilting
Who knows where?
With things I always knew were there
But never got to reach that high
While I was getting high
Lau, la, la, la
Na naa nana na
La da na na na
La da na naaa
La na na
La da, nah
My friend
Ooh, my friend
I know that I'll look back and say,
"Why did I piss it all away?"
But if I fall, just let me fall
Too busy to exist at all
And this world is tilting
Who knows where?
With things I always knew were there
But never got to reach that high
While I was getting high
Lyrics submitted by Nonny, edited by MichyGeary
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