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.
Lights and swollen glands Paris Tokyo
New New New York M-M-M-Mexico
Get plastic woo ooh
Stay tragic woo ooh
Proclamation of emancipation
Oh dear lord, please let me into heaven for just an afternoon.
Oh Sam-I-am
I can't go to sleep without ambien
Singing so high, they call me mister goodbye
Saying catch me if you can, catch me if you can
Oh Sam-I-am
I can't go to sleep without ambien
Singing so high, they call me mister goodbye
Saying catch me if you can, catch me if you can, catch
Lets talk about the scene for a minute,
I know we ain't been seen in a minute,
We left it for a minute now we all up in it
Baby boy if you've got them big dreams go and get it,
Never been the type with tight jeans that wont fit
When I see those scene girls, bet they all gonna get it
And I'm living clean
Now a lot of ya'll won't get it
Now it's mean but I don't give a damn if ya'll don't get it
So fresh and so clean in my new jean
While I'm laughing at the bacon, you're all crying a the clinic
I read a couple blogs and they had my ass livid
But now I've got my own to whirl, gotta live with it
Never played basketball, but I could show you how to pivot
Make your moves in that black hatch back Honda Civic
Like I did in high school, wishin' I could relive it
But I can't so let's go on, give the hook a revisit.
Oh Sam-I-am
I can't go to sleep without ambien
Singing so high, they call me mister goodbye
Saying catch me if you can, catch me if you can
Oh Sam-I-am
I can't go to sleep without ambien
Singing so high, they call me mister goodbye
Saying catch me if you can, catch me if you can, catch
New New New York M-M-M-Mexico
Get plastic woo ooh
Stay tragic woo ooh
Proclamation of emancipation
Oh dear lord, please let me into heaven for just an afternoon.
Oh Sam-I-am
I can't go to sleep without ambien
Singing so high, they call me mister goodbye
Saying catch me if you can, catch me if you can
Oh Sam-I-am
I can't go to sleep without ambien
Singing so high, they call me mister goodbye
Saying catch me if you can, catch me if you can, catch
Lets talk about the scene for a minute,
I know we ain't been seen in a minute,
We left it for a minute now we all up in it
Baby boy if you've got them big dreams go and get it,
Never been the type with tight jeans that wont fit
When I see those scene girls, bet they all gonna get it
And I'm living clean
Now a lot of ya'll won't get it
Now it's mean but I don't give a damn if ya'll don't get it
So fresh and so clean in my new jean
While I'm laughing at the bacon, you're all crying a the clinic
I read a couple blogs and they had my ass livid
But now I've got my own to whirl, gotta live with it
Never played basketball, but I could show you how to pivot
Make your moves in that black hatch back Honda Civic
Like I did in high school, wishin' I could relive it
But I can't so let's go on, give the hook a revisit.
Oh Sam-I-am
I can't go to sleep without ambien
Singing so high, they call me mister goodbye
Saying catch me if you can, catch me if you can
Oh Sam-I-am
I can't go to sleep without ambien
Singing so high, they call me mister goodbye
Saying catch me if you can, catch me if you can, catch
Lyrics submitted by BeMyUnholy, edited by passerotto
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Obviously, "Never played basketball, but I could show you how to PIVOT"