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.
What you gonna do - When the river runs dry
Put your drills in the mud - Death up in the sky
Should have saved those bottles -
Should have saved those cans
Shouldn't ought'a listen to the plastic man
No more toilet papet - It's gone just like the trees
Do you like the taste of honey - Isn't it best without the bees
Be careful what you're doing - You're messing up my life
And if all this world's a cake - Then you took too big a slice
What's it all about - They scream and then they shout
Don't ask me - Cause I don't know (I don't know)
What's it all about - They scream and then they shout
Don't blame me - I told you so
Read it in the papers - You hear it in the news
Very few listen - A spew without a view
And is it really worth it - You're choking on remote
I see the red tide coming - But we don't even vote
Infection in the greenhouse - Dizzy in the clouds
Oily as an ocean - Heaven disemboweled
Planning on a future - Well lucky for some
Develop your body - But your mind is still a slum
What's it all about - They scream and then they shout
Don't ask me - Cause I don't know
What's it all about - They scream and then they shout (Well don't ask me)
Don't blame me - I told you so (Middle-age)
The product in the packaging
Of multi-layered glam
150 layers of materials
To cover up a sham
Protecting my planet
Wrap it in plastic
This package is product
Perfected eternal
A crap in a cling wrap
I never met yet a prime minister or president
Who told the truth yet
Swimming in the slurry
Burning in the heat
Wind blown is this weather
I eat what you secrete
I climb this highest derrick
This circus has no prayer
No UFO to save us
And do we really care
What's it all about - They scream and then they shout (Do we really care)
Don't ask me - Cause I don't know
What's it all about - They scream and then they shout
Don't blame me - I told you so
What's it all about - They scream and then they shout (No UFO to save us)
Don't ask me - Cause I don't know
What's it all about - They scream and then they shout (No fun, no religion)
Don't blame me - I told you so
What's it all about - They scream and then they shout
Don't ask me - Cause I don't know
What's it all about - They scream and then they shout (Climb this highest derrick)
Don't blame me - I told you so
Kiss goodbye to the Earth, the sun, the moon
It's easy to decieve a child.
Put your drills in the mud - Death up in the sky
Should have saved those bottles -
Should have saved those cans
Shouldn't ought'a listen to the plastic man
No more toilet papet - It's gone just like the trees
Do you like the taste of honey - Isn't it best without the bees
Be careful what you're doing - You're messing up my life
And if all this world's a cake - Then you took too big a slice
What's it all about - They scream and then they shout
Don't ask me - Cause I don't know (I don't know)
What's it all about - They scream and then they shout
Don't blame me - I told you so
Read it in the papers - You hear it in the news
Very few listen - A spew without a view
And is it really worth it - You're choking on remote
I see the red tide coming - But we don't even vote
Infection in the greenhouse - Dizzy in the clouds
Oily as an ocean - Heaven disemboweled
Planning on a future - Well lucky for some
Develop your body - But your mind is still a slum
What's it all about - They scream and then they shout
Don't ask me - Cause I don't know
What's it all about - They scream and then they shout (Well don't ask me)
Don't blame me - I told you so (Middle-age)
The product in the packaging
Of multi-layered glam
150 layers of materials
To cover up a sham
Protecting my planet
Wrap it in plastic
This package is product
Perfected eternal
A crap in a cling wrap
I never met yet a prime minister or president
Who told the truth yet
Swimming in the slurry
Burning in the heat
Wind blown is this weather
I eat what you secrete
I climb this highest derrick
This circus has no prayer
No UFO to save us
And do we really care
What's it all about - They scream and then they shout (Do we really care)
Don't ask me - Cause I don't know
What's it all about - They scream and then they shout
Don't blame me - I told you so
What's it all about - They scream and then they shout (No UFO to save us)
Don't ask me - Cause I don't know
What's it all about - They scream and then they shout (No fun, no religion)
Don't blame me - I told you so
What's it all about - They scream and then they shout
Don't ask me - Cause I don't know
What's it all about - They scream and then they shout (Climb this highest derrick)
Don't blame me - I told you so
Kiss goodbye to the Earth, the sun, the moon
It's easy to decieve a child.
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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