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.
I can't stomach this variety
My plane is underneath my feet
And I'm tired of your commercial needs
And I can't follow ideology
I'm proud of my attendancy
I wear my jacket of insanity
And I ain't gonna fall into the gap
That kinda life is just a baited trap
Since when was fashion a necessity
I don't see anything we really need
So why should I reinvent myself
When the world that I see
It will not change for you and me
I can't follow our democracy
They don't practice but I tell you they preach
They don't learn but still they think they can teach
And I think Mr. Blair is causing anarchy
You can hear him singing, 'God Save The Queen'
With a gaze just like a sex machine
I'm sick and tired of all the hate and lies
That seem to hang around the suit and ties
I hate the underworld and I'll agree
I don't see anything we really need
So why should I reinvent myself
When the world that I see
It will not change for you and me
So why should I reinvent myself
When you take more than you need
When this world was built on greed
Sometimes I get all [Incomprehensible] just can't sleep
So why should I reinvent myself
When the world that I see
It will not change for you and me
So why should I reinvent myself
When you take more than you need
In this world that's built on greed
My plane is underneath my feet
And I'm tired of your commercial needs
And I can't follow ideology
I'm proud of my attendancy
I wear my jacket of insanity
And I ain't gonna fall into the gap
That kinda life is just a baited trap
Since when was fashion a necessity
I don't see anything we really need
So why should I reinvent myself
When the world that I see
It will not change for you and me
I can't follow our democracy
They don't practice but I tell you they preach
They don't learn but still they think they can teach
And I think Mr. Blair is causing anarchy
You can hear him singing, 'God Save The Queen'
With a gaze just like a sex machine
I'm sick and tired of all the hate and lies
That seem to hang around the suit and ties
I hate the underworld and I'll agree
I don't see anything we really need
So why should I reinvent myself
When the world that I see
It will not change for you and me
So why should I reinvent myself
When you take more than you need
When this world was built on greed
Sometimes I get all [Incomprehensible] just can't sleep
So why should I reinvent myself
When the world that I see
It will not change for you and me
So why should I reinvent myself
When you take more than you need
In this world that's built on greed
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This song reminds me of Hedi Slimane. He sent it to a journalist as an answer once, and the lines, "Since when was fashion a necessity I don't see anything we really need
So why should I reinvent myself When the world that I see It will not change for you and me" make this a very tongue-in-cheek choice indeed. It's about not bothering to fit in with the rest of the world, a conscious choice not to change, because the world is rather nasty and not worth the trouble. Being yourself for all the wrong reasons, basically.