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.
Shared a cigarette for breakfast
Shared an airplane ride for lunch
Sitting in between a ghost
And a walking bowl of punch
Can you play a little hunch?
Predicting a delay on landing
Well I predict we'll have a drink
Lost my money on the first hand
Got burned on a big fat king
And your ears are gonna ring
And your eyes just wanna close
Nothing changing I suppose
It's too late to turn back, here we go
Portland, oh no
It's too late to turn back, here we go
Portland, oh no
We'll wait away the raindrops
Look out boy, you'll catch cold
Serving boy can chain nothing
That ain't anchored to his throne
But at least he's going home
Sitting like a backwoods junkie
Caught down in a servant trust
Look at the funny monkey
Putting silver in his cup
And your silver turns to rust
And your secondhand clothes
Trust no one I suppose
It's too late to turn back, here we go
Portland, oh no
It's too late to turn back, here we go
Portland, oh no
Shared a cigarette for breakfast
Shared a pack of lies for lunch
Credit card almighty
Bringing in the next little bunch
And you owe me on a hunch
And your eyes just wanna close
And nothing changes I suppose
It's too late to turn back, here we go
Portland, oh no
It's too late to turn back, here we go
Portland, oh no
Shared an airplane ride for lunch
Sitting in between a ghost
And a walking bowl of punch
Can you play a little hunch?
Predicting a delay on landing
Well I predict we'll have a drink
Lost my money on the first hand
Got burned on a big fat king
And your ears are gonna ring
And your eyes just wanna close
Nothing changing I suppose
It's too late to turn back, here we go
Portland, oh no
It's too late to turn back, here we go
Portland, oh no
We'll wait away the raindrops
Look out boy, you'll catch cold
Serving boy can chain nothing
That ain't anchored to his throne
But at least he's going home
Sitting like a backwoods junkie
Caught down in a servant trust
Look at the funny monkey
Putting silver in his cup
And your silver turns to rust
And your secondhand clothes
Trust no one I suppose
It's too late to turn back, here we go
Portland, oh no
It's too late to turn back, here we go
Portland, oh no
Shared a cigarette for breakfast
Shared a pack of lies for lunch
Credit card almighty
Bringing in the next little bunch
And you owe me on a hunch
And your eyes just wanna close
And nothing changes I suppose
It's too late to turn back, here we go
Portland, oh no
It's too late to turn back, here we go
Portland, oh no
Lyrics submitted by MrAwesomeSquared
Portland Lyrics as written by Paul Westerberg
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I feel weird thinking this, as so many of these songs have people commenting that they refer to drugs, often when I think it's not so clear the song is about drugs. So this might be my own example of taking a few phrases and over stating my case, but
"Shared a cigarette for breakfast Shared an airplane ride for lunch" Sets a very unbalanced picture of these people and their unhealthy lifestyle..
"Well I predict we'll have a drink" It's only one word but in the song it just comes out so darkly colored as a reference to a big problem, to me..
"And your ears are gonna ring And your eyes just wanna close Nothing changing I suppose
It's too late to turn back, here we go Portland, oh no"
To me this section, the first part resembles what a really big hit of something or other feelings like. The second part reflects that they are a little conflicted about going to Portland, definitely are torn, know it's a bad idea. The "Oh, no.." part sounds like someone to me has given in to their own dark side.
Then again, all of these pieces are really quite ambiguous, and my arguments are based as much on the lyrics as my own subjective "feeling" evoked when I hear them sung by this guy. So I may be wrong. I do hear Portland is a good place to find dope..
Sorry about the huge double post, I dont even think I clicked twice and that still happened..