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've been carving down the days on my bedroom door
Teeth are all but gum
Takin' a beating from grinding when I'm sleeping
I busted out the boards on my window sill
Nailed shut to keep me here, I'm dying
Nothing can stop me from trying
To claw my way out this grave
Before I decay I will make a clean break
And burn it down
I'll burn this town behind me
Run until I can't breathe
I'm breaking out
I'll bury all my mistakes
And rebuild until my back breaks
Consider them convinced I'm a lunatic
Eyes are wide and crazed
I'm feeling hell bent on wreaking havoc
I sent a stack of bricks thorough the neighbors house
Watch them as they spill into their yards
They don't know how lucky they are
They swat the vultures aside and swear they're alive
But just look in their eyes
Burn it down
I'll burn this town behind me
And run until I can't breathe
I'm breaking out
I'll bury all my mistakes
And rebuild until my back breaks down
On my grave stone for all to see it reads
"I took this city out at the knees at least"
On your grave stone
Covered in leaves they'll read nothing more than
"Rest In-", "Rest In Peace"
(Nothing more than)
(Nothing more than)
(Nothing more than)
(Nothing more than)
And burn it down
I'll burn this town behind me
Run until I can't breathe
Maybe I am breaking out
I'll bury all my mistakes
And rebuild until my back breaks down
(Down)
(Down) rebuild until my back breaks
Rebuild until my back breaks
Until my back breaks
Teeth are all but gum
Takin' a beating from grinding when I'm sleeping
I busted out the boards on my window sill
Nailed shut to keep me here, I'm dying
Nothing can stop me from trying
To claw my way out this grave
Before I decay I will make a clean break
And burn it down
I'll burn this town behind me
Run until I can't breathe
I'm breaking out
I'll bury all my mistakes
And rebuild until my back breaks
Consider them convinced I'm a lunatic
Eyes are wide and crazed
I'm feeling hell bent on wreaking havoc
I sent a stack of bricks thorough the neighbors house
Watch them as they spill into their yards
They don't know how lucky they are
They swat the vultures aside and swear they're alive
But just look in their eyes
Burn it down
I'll burn this town behind me
And run until I can't breathe
I'm breaking out
I'll bury all my mistakes
And rebuild until my back breaks down
On my grave stone for all to see it reads
"I took this city out at the knees at least"
On your grave stone
Covered in leaves they'll read nothing more than
"Rest In-", "Rest In Peace"
(Nothing more than)
(Nothing more than)
(Nothing more than)
(Nothing more than)
And burn it down
I'll burn this town behind me
Run until I can't breathe
Maybe I am breaking out
I'll bury all my mistakes
And rebuild until my back breaks down
(Down)
(Down) rebuild until my back breaks
Rebuild until my back breaks
Until my back breaks
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Great version of a great song,
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i'm too lazy to send the corrections to the "team of moderators." someone else can? (and btw, this is from the booklet. some of the words in the song aren't in the booklet, but i feel like i'll get bitched at if i put them in, or leave them out. lose/lose situation, i guess? score).
"I've been carving down the days on my bedroom door Teeth are all but gum, Takin' a beating from grinding when I'm sleeping. I busted out the boards on my window sill, Nails shut to keep me here, I'm dying. Nothing can stop me from trying To crawl my way out this grave, Before I decay I will make a clean break..
And burn it down, I'll burn this town behind me And run until I cant breathe. Im breaking out, I'll bury all my mistakes And rebuild until my back breaks.
Consider them convinced I'm a luncatic. Eyes are wide and crazed, I'm feeling hell bent on wreaking havoc. I sent a stack of bricks through the neighbors house, Watch them as they spill into their yards, They dont know how lucky they are. They swat the vultures aside And swear they're alive, but just look in their eyes
Burn it down, I'll burn this town behind me And run until I cant breathe. Im breaking out, I'll bury all my mistakes And rebuild until my back breaks down.
On my gravestone for all to see, it reads, "I took this city out at the knees" at least. On your gravestone, covered in leaves, they'll read nothing more than "Rest in, Rest in peace".
(Nothing more than Nothing more than Nothing more than Nothing more than)
And burn it down, I'll burn this town behind me, Run until I cant breathe. Baby, I am breaking out, I'll bury all my mistakes And rebuild until my back breaks down (down).
Rebuild until my back breaks.. Rebuild until my back breaks.. Until my back breaks."
best song on the album
and this song is obviously about startin over in your life
REBEL NIGGAS! yea im just seeing this as being a personification of teenage rebellion. Which makes sense, because every one of their songs are meant to be relatable to teens.