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 in the grain of the wood
It's in the needle's rust
It's in the eagle's claw
It's in the eyes you trust
It's in the jackal's dreams
It's in the sleet and the hail
It's in the unmarked box
Came today in the mail
It's in the dead man's pocket
It's in the child's first sin
It's in the Constitution
Written in very small print
It's in Colin Powell's lies
It's in the shaman's trance
It's in the cellar waiting
And it's in the best laid plans
(chorus):
Now we could cut and run
To have the blame
Now, don't stop now
That's why we came
House gone up in flames
It's in the national anthem
It's in the scurrying roach
It's in the closed partition
'Tween first class and coach
It's in the relentless fever
It's in the lonely room
It's in the hands of fate
And it's in the pharaoh's tomb
It's in the rich man's dreams
It's in the poor man's hands
It's in the body bags
Along the Rio Grande
It's in the evening shade
It's on the zealot's tongue
It's in the widow's tears
And it's in the miner's lungs
(chorus)
It's in the moon's dark spin
It's in the cloudless sky
It's in Saint Peter's denial
That he thrice denied
It's in the distant thunder
It's in the whispered prayer
That they won't find us hidden
Here beneath the stairs
So consider yourself lucky
And watch what you say
I got what I wanted
And you might get the same
It's in bold print nailed to the cathedral door
It's in the black cold pressure
On the ocean floor
(chorus)
It's in the needle's rust
It's in the eagle's claw
It's in the eyes you trust
It's in the jackal's dreams
It's in the sleet and the hail
It's in the unmarked box
Came today in the mail
It's in the dead man's pocket
It's in the child's first sin
It's in the Constitution
Written in very small print
It's in Colin Powell's lies
It's in the shaman's trance
It's in the cellar waiting
And it's in the best laid plans
(chorus):
Now we could cut and run
To have the blame
Now, don't stop now
That's why we came
House gone up in flames
It's in the national anthem
It's in the scurrying roach
It's in the closed partition
'Tween first class and coach
It's in the relentless fever
It's in the lonely room
It's in the hands of fate
And it's in the pharaoh's tomb
It's in the rich man's dreams
It's in the poor man's hands
It's in the body bags
Along the Rio Grande
It's in the evening shade
It's on the zealot's tongue
It's in the widow's tears
And it's in the miner's lungs
(chorus)
It's in the moon's dark spin
It's in the cloudless sky
It's in Saint Peter's denial
That he thrice denied
It's in the distant thunder
It's in the whispered prayer
That they won't find us hidden
Here beneath the stairs
So consider yourself lucky
And watch what you say
I got what I wanted
And you might get the same
It's in bold print nailed to the cathedral door
It's in the black cold pressure
On the ocean floor
(chorus)
Lyrics submitted by LordDionysius
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