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.
It's been a blast but we've been caught
Packing up your suitcase, hard day, long face
Get the story right, get the story right
Get the story down
Waltzing right out of the room
Be good when your parents stay over in June
It's been alright but we have fought
Ways of the Samurai, parry, thrust, do or die
Not the fighting type, not the killing kind
Get the story down
Waltzing right out of the room
Be good when your parents stay over in June
I heard the news, I'll send a card
Cellar door, Friday night, long Johns, hold tight
Put it on a page, put it on a line
Get the story down
Waltzing right out of the room
Be good when your parents stay over in June
Packing up your suitcase, hard day, long face
Get the story right, get the story right
Get the story down
Waltzing right out of the room
Be good when your parents stay over in June
It's been alright but we have fought
Ways of the Samurai, parry, thrust, do or die
Not the fighting type, not the killing kind
Get the story down
Waltzing right out of the room
Be good when your parents stay over in June
I heard the news, I'll send a card
Cellar door, Friday night, long Johns, hold tight
Put it on a page, put it on a line
Get the story down
Waltzing right out of the room
Be good when your parents stay over in June
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
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.
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
I love the lyrics "ways of the samurai /perry thrust do or die". TPC's energy is infectious, like a disease. They really capture adolescent energy, I'm 17 and If I had a band, it'd probably sound like this (I can only wish).