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.
barefoot, passing through
I knelt down to get a better view
of what grew there
well what grew there?
scared, heard a terrible sound
lay down played dead
that's when I heard it clearer
in the rushes a voice said:
you could walk around forever
and never notice me
a little closer in the rushes
hiding down among the reeds
a seed
I swallowed
it digested quick
but not enough to not make me sick, I lost it
it tasted like a light going off inside my mind
then suddenly I was out of harm's way
forgetting the desire to remember
trans tourist vanished
finished damaged playback
I felt myself unraveling at a racetrack
I felt myself unraveling at a racetrack
then I coughed up blood
scraped it off my tongue
sucked it off my thumb
but it was rotten
care, to care
I knelt down but you weren't there
anymore
I was pushed into a bush
in the rushes on the screen
it was all acting
can't believe it
believe that I had seen it
remembered who was in my arms
remembered when I had arms
it's like a dream
the way that it unfolded
like I'd been in the rushes without knowing
I kissed it but I must admit
I missed it now I do forget
like I'd been in the rushes without knowing
you've been forgotten
you've been forgotten
You are forgotten
it's been forgotten
you're all forgotten
I knelt down to get a better view
of what grew there
well what grew there?
scared, heard a terrible sound
lay down played dead
that's when I heard it clearer
in the rushes a voice said:
you could walk around forever
and never notice me
a little closer in the rushes
hiding down among the reeds
a seed
I swallowed
it digested quick
but not enough to not make me sick, I lost it
it tasted like a light going off inside my mind
then suddenly I was out of harm's way
forgetting the desire to remember
trans tourist vanished
finished damaged playback
I felt myself unraveling at a racetrack
I felt myself unraveling at a racetrack
then I coughed up blood
scraped it off my tongue
sucked it off my thumb
but it was rotten
care, to care
I knelt down but you weren't there
anymore
I was pushed into a bush
in the rushes on the screen
it was all acting
can't believe it
believe that I had seen it
remembered who was in my arms
remembered when I had arms
it's like a dream
the way that it unfolded
like I'd been in the rushes without knowing
I kissed it but I must admit
I missed it now I do forget
like I'd been in the rushes without knowing
you've been forgotten
you've been forgotten
You are forgotten
it's been forgotten
you're all forgotten
Lyrics submitted by FiberOpticJesus
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