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.
Do you remember when they said that they'd blow our whole world into oblivion?
And that the war was a long way away and anyway who gives a shit for your opinion?
I'm comin' clean I swear my dear I would, be lost without it now
and when my coat was stinkin' that evil smoke, you thought my train got lost
Hey, somebody bombed the train
they blew it right off of the rails
so I can't see you today
And the sailors, they all got out ok
and made it back to great lakes
sneakin' whiskey back onto their base
Hey, has anybody heard from Shane?
I haven't seen him in days
I hope he's not found near the rails
And Julie, she loved to look at the trains
and round out paintin' her nails
in her cutoffs next to the rails
And the switchmen, they all knew her by name
they waited for her on their breaks
to check out her legs and her nails
In Waukegan, there lies the county jail
but I don't have the bail
has anybody here seen Shane?
Hey, somebody bombed the train
they blew it right off of the rails
so I can't see you today
Hey, somebody blew up the train!
they knocked it right off of the tracks
Has anybody here seen Shane?
Cuz somebody's gotta pay
somebody's gotta pay
somebody's gotta pay
somebody's gotta pay
somebody's gotta pay
somebody's gotta pay
And that the war was a long way away and anyway who gives a shit for your opinion?
I'm comin' clean I swear my dear I would, be lost without it now
and when my coat was stinkin' that evil smoke, you thought my train got lost
Hey, somebody bombed the train
they blew it right off of the rails
so I can't see you today
And the sailors, they all got out ok
and made it back to great lakes
sneakin' whiskey back onto their base
Hey, has anybody heard from Shane?
I haven't seen him in days
I hope he's not found near the rails
And Julie, she loved to look at the trains
and round out paintin' her nails
in her cutoffs next to the rails
And the switchmen, they all knew her by name
they waited for her on their breaks
to check out her legs and her nails
In Waukegan, there lies the county jail
but I don't have the bail
has anybody here seen Shane?
Hey, somebody bombed the train
they blew it right off of the rails
so I can't see you today
Hey, somebody blew up the train!
they knocked it right off of the tracks
Has anybody here seen Shane?
Cuz somebody's gotta pay
somebody's gotta pay
somebody's gotta pay
somebody's gotta pay
somebody's gotta pay
somebody's gotta pay
Lyrics submitted by droman
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