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.
In the morning wake me up
And tell me everything
So I can understand your world
And you can understand my dream
Yeah I could be anywhere
And you could be there with me
But I just want to be a ghost
And see everything
I don't want it to be the way they want it
This town, this night, this crowd
Come on put them up, let me hear it loud
This town, this city, this crowd
Stand up on your feet put your worry down
And everyone of you all around
Come on yall let's take this town
Let's take this town
It's better that we keep this close
Keep you close to me
Walking under every sky
Over every sea
You can be my modern girl
And I can be the one you found
If we're taking on the world today
I know we got to leave this town
I don't want it to be the way they want it
This town, this night, this crowd
Come on put them up, let me hear it loud
This town, this city, this crowd
Stand up on your feet put your worry down
And everyone of you all around
Come on yall let's take this town
Let's take this town
Come on yall let's take this town
Come on yall let's take it down
On our own let's get away
Nothing more left here to see
Come on love make it perfect
More and more I will believe
Like a child I must believe
Come on yall make it worth it
This town, this night, this crowd
Come on put them up, let me hear it loud
This town, this city, this crowd
Stand up on your feet put your worry down
And everyone of you all around
Come on yall let's take it
Everyone of you in this crowd
Come on yall let's take this town
This town, this night, this crowd
Come on put them up, let's take this town
This town, this city, this crowd
We're taking on the world today
Come on put them up, and every one of you all around
We can be anyway, take this town
Come on put them up, we're taking on the world today
Take this town, we could be anywhere
And tell me everything
So I can understand your world
And you can understand my dream
Yeah I could be anywhere
And you could be there with me
But I just want to be a ghost
And see everything
I don't want it to be the way they want it
This town, this night, this crowd
Come on put them up, let me hear it loud
This town, this city, this crowd
Stand up on your feet put your worry down
And everyone of you all around
Come on yall let's take this town
Let's take this town
It's better that we keep this close
Keep you close to me
Walking under every sky
Over every sea
You can be my modern girl
And I can be the one you found
If we're taking on the world today
I know we got to leave this town
I don't want it to be the way they want it
This town, this night, this crowd
Come on put them up, let me hear it loud
This town, this city, this crowd
Stand up on your feet put your worry down
And everyone of you all around
Come on yall let's take this town
Let's take this town
Come on yall let's take this town
Come on yall let's take it down
On our own let's get away
Nothing more left here to see
Come on love make it perfect
More and more I will believe
Like a child I must believe
Come on yall make it worth it
This town, this night, this crowd
Come on put them up, let me hear it loud
This town, this city, this crowd
Stand up on your feet put your worry down
And everyone of you all around
Come on yall let's take it
Everyone of you in this crowd
Come on yall let's take this town
This town, this night, this crowd
Come on put them up, let's take this town
This town, this city, this crowd
We're taking on the world today
Come on put them up, and every one of you all around
We can be anyway, take this town
Come on put them up, we're taking on the world today
Take this town, we could be anywhere
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
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
AWESOME SONG!