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.
The city keeps on going, on.
Float down the river with my Iddy and Jay ?
Get off the boat and board a plan to J-K-F and I, ain't slept a week
But it don't seem to matter to the subway squeakers, squeak (and squeak)
The city keeps on going
We just keep on rolling
The city keeps on going
We just keep on rolling, on.
Grand Central Station and got wind they're coming on
And the goodness yesterday ?
No one round oh and I still recognize her
After all these years and she still looks the same
Ah, she still looks the same.
Oh and we end up in Brooklyn
It was rainin' so hard
Come up all day
And the rain to clear it off,
Oh we're just people watching on 3rd and St. Mormons ?
And when the girl's kissing my face, my face
She was just kissing my face
And again, again
Just when I was sick and lonely,
There was a shaking on the ground
We were hiding from the rain
We were riding on the train
Just when I was sick and lonely,
There was a shaking on the ground
Were were hiding from the rain
Were were riding on the train.
She was dancing on the midway
Just kissing my face
She was dancing on the midway
Just kissing my face
Dancing on the midway
Kissing my face
Dancing on the midway
Just waving goodbye.
Float down the river with my Iddy and Jay ?
Get off the boat and board a plan to J-K-F and I, ain't slept a week
But it don't seem to matter to the subway squeakers, squeak (and squeak)
The city keeps on going
We just keep on rolling
The city keeps on going
We just keep on rolling, on.
Grand Central Station and got wind they're coming on
And the goodness yesterday ?
No one round oh and I still recognize her
After all these years and she still looks the same
Ah, she still looks the same.
Oh and we end up in Brooklyn
It was rainin' so hard
Come up all day
And the rain to clear it off,
Oh we're just people watching on 3rd and St. Mormons ?
And when the girl's kissing my face, my face
She was just kissing my face
And again, again
Just when I was sick and lonely,
There was a shaking on the ground
We were hiding from the rain
We were riding on the train
Just when I was sick and lonely,
There was a shaking on the ground
Were were hiding from the rain
Were were riding on the train.
She was dancing on the midway
Just kissing my face
She was dancing on the midway
Just kissing my face
Dancing on the midway
Kissing my face
Dancing on the midway
Just waving goodbye.
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