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 met an old man today
standing on the street
wearing a sign that read
this is my last day alive
so i stopped and asked
if in his long life
there was anything he regretted
and he spoke to me words that i'll never forget
he said i lived my whole life knowing one day i'd die
and it's alright oh it's alright
and if you are wise
you'll take my advice
and you'll be alright anfd you'll yurn out fine
and he said life ain't up to fate
and you can only get out whats put in
and it's over in a blink
so why not give everything boy you listen and you won't be repeated and
this is the meaning of life
ya
he said this is the meaning of life
oh when i when i
saw an old friend today
standing in the rain
wearing a ring she did not have the last time we met
out of concern i stopped to ask her why she betrayed solitude
her attribue i most admired
she spoke to me words i'll never forget
and she said
i've lived my whole life hoping one day i'd find something beautiful that i could bothe share and call mine
and if you're blessed as i
one day you will find siclicality between two souls it's what makes you whole
falling in love is like an eclipse
for it only occurs once or twice
and you could miss it if you blink
so why not embrace it when you become faced with it
it;s so amazing and
this is the meaning of life
ya
she said this is the meaning of life
oh so now i know
and now that i know how to live well all of my problems solve themselves
fears that i've had dissolve into dreams
and they're surrounding me
ya ya ya ya
and this is the meaning of life
standing on the street
wearing a sign that read
this is my last day alive
so i stopped and asked
if in his long life
there was anything he regretted
and he spoke to me words that i'll never forget
he said i lived my whole life knowing one day i'd die
and it's alright oh it's alright
and if you are wise
you'll take my advice
and you'll be alright anfd you'll yurn out fine
and he said life ain't up to fate
and you can only get out whats put in
and it's over in a blink
so why not give everything boy you listen and you won't be repeated and
this is the meaning of life
ya
he said this is the meaning of life
oh when i when i
saw an old friend today
standing in the rain
wearing a ring she did not have the last time we met
out of concern i stopped to ask her why she betrayed solitude
her attribue i most admired
she spoke to me words i'll never forget
and she said
i've lived my whole life hoping one day i'd find something beautiful that i could bothe share and call mine
and if you're blessed as i
one day you will find siclicality between two souls it's what makes you whole
falling in love is like an eclipse
for it only occurs once or twice
and you could miss it if you blink
so why not embrace it when you become faced with it
it;s so amazing and
this is the meaning of life
ya
she said this is the meaning of life
oh so now i know
and now that i know how to live well all of my problems solve themselves
fears that i've had dissolve into dreams
and they're surrounding me
ya ya ya ya
and this is the meaning of life
Lyrics submitted by jrraylewis
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