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.
Light starts in a dark place
The story of a car chase
And I've become the criminal
Fleeing from the scene
And being caught in a bad dream
The truth becomes the unthinkable
I'm on the brink of disaster
Staring down the consequences
To brake hard would be better
Tonight I'll do what it takes to fail
Going there only faster
Jump the gun and throw it into gear
But the fact of that matter,
I'm out of control, asleep at the wheel
Asleep at the wheel
I'm out of control, asleep at the wheel
Night falls with no grace
I said I can do anything
But I can do anything wrong
And with burning speed
The rear view says it's catching up to me
But I'm already gone
I'm on the brink of disaster
Staring down the consequences
To brake hard would be better
Tonight I'll do what it takes to fail
Going there only faster
Jump the gun and throw it into gear
But the fact of the matter,
I'm out of control, asleep at the wheel
Asleep at the wheel
Tearing it down to open up the highway
We're looking for an exit
No pretending
Speeding down and around
With a sobering smash
Starting at a car crash
Oh, the chase is ending
I'm on the brink of disaster
Staring down the consequences
To brake hard would be better
Tonight I'll do what it takes to fail
Going there only faster
Jump the gun and throw it into gear
But the fact of the matter
The end is coming
I'm on the brink of disaster
Staring down the consequences
To brake hard would be better
I'm out of control, asleep at the wheel
Asleep at the wheel
Asleep at the wheel
Asleep at the wheel
I'm out of control, asleep at the wheel
The story of a car chase
And I've become the criminal
Fleeing from the scene
And being caught in a bad dream
The truth becomes the unthinkable
I'm on the brink of disaster
Staring down the consequences
To brake hard would be better
Tonight I'll do what it takes to fail
Going there only faster
Jump the gun and throw it into gear
But the fact of that matter,
I'm out of control, asleep at the wheel
Asleep at the wheel
I'm out of control, asleep at the wheel
Night falls with no grace
I said I can do anything
But I can do anything wrong
And with burning speed
The rear view says it's catching up to me
But I'm already gone
I'm on the brink of disaster
Staring down the consequences
To brake hard would be better
Tonight I'll do what it takes to fail
Going there only faster
Jump the gun and throw it into gear
But the fact of the matter,
I'm out of control, asleep at the wheel
Asleep at the wheel
Tearing it down to open up the highway
We're looking for an exit
No pretending
Speeding down and around
With a sobering smash
Starting at a car crash
Oh, the chase is ending
I'm on the brink of disaster
Staring down the consequences
To brake hard would be better
Tonight I'll do what it takes to fail
Going there only faster
Jump the gun and throw it into gear
But the fact of the matter
The end is coming
I'm on the brink of disaster
Staring down the consequences
To brake hard would be better
I'm out of control, asleep at the wheel
Asleep at the wheel
Asleep at the wheel
Asleep at the wheel
I'm out of control, asleep at the wheel
Lyrics submitted by WishingForYou, edited by Skoobasteve24
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