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'm not happy with myself these days
I took the best parts of this script
and I made them all clichés
and this red bandanna surely going to fade
even though it's the only thing the fire didn't take
everybody says you'll grow a lot
from this experience
maybe become zen after a while
become a president
lessons get disguised sometimes
but all I know
is I finally know the difference between
going back and going home
there's a lady on my block
that has a kid
and as he swims in the above ground pool
she seals up the lid
and he thinks it's kind of normal
that she hides
up the cuts and all the bruises
she says it's war paint for the eyes
she tells her son she did the best she could
as she buries dad
maybe he'll grow up to be a man
or like his father did
as they leave the driveway for the Northern snow
they finally know the difference between
going back and going home
cut to a life
being born in '69
middle class suburbs
everything's fine
fondue parties
my mom and my dad's
drinks being drunk
and fights being had
I lost my virginity
to a girl in my band
she was four years older
she made me a man
so addicted to sex
every chance that I got
with whoever I wanted
until I got caught
so I took my penicillin
and I took my band
to a town made of glitter girls
and cocaine friends
got hammered for dream
by the age of eighteen
saw more than most people
that I know had ever seen
played every bar
drank until black and blue
did the morning show bullshit
and went to China too
where they left us to die
without a ticket to flee
inciting a riot
we were only twenty-three
packed it up
started over
just as fast as we can
selling tapes, making merch
in the back of the van
living hand to mouth
for the next five years
took up drinking wine
gave up drinking beers
signed another big deal
with a devil in a dress
a one hit wonder, i think,
described it best
decided to burn out
then to fade away
went back to the van
the very next day
built it up
made a living
without any help
made amazing friends
if I say so myself
if living like this at thirty-eight is a bore
then come on, God, please, give me thirty-eight more
and everybody knows I've seen a lot
yeah, I'm experienced
makes you feel so old after a while
just like our president
every time I come back in this town, I know
I finally know the difference between
going back and going home
yeah
back and going home
I do
I took the best parts of this script
and I made them all clichés
and this red bandanna surely going to fade
even though it's the only thing the fire didn't take
everybody says you'll grow a lot
from this experience
maybe become zen after a while
become a president
lessons get disguised sometimes
but all I know
is I finally know the difference between
going back and going home
there's a lady on my block
that has a kid
and as he swims in the above ground pool
she seals up the lid
and he thinks it's kind of normal
that she hides
up the cuts and all the bruises
she says it's war paint for the eyes
she tells her son she did the best she could
as she buries dad
maybe he'll grow up to be a man
or like his father did
as they leave the driveway for the Northern snow
they finally know the difference between
going back and going home
cut to a life
being born in '69
middle class suburbs
everything's fine
fondue parties
my mom and my dad's
drinks being drunk
and fights being had
I lost my virginity
to a girl in my band
she was four years older
she made me a man
so addicted to sex
every chance that I got
with whoever I wanted
until I got caught
so I took my penicillin
and I took my band
to a town made of glitter girls
and cocaine friends
got hammered for dream
by the age of eighteen
saw more than most people
that I know had ever seen
played every bar
drank until black and blue
did the morning show bullshit
and went to China too
where they left us to die
without a ticket to flee
inciting a riot
we were only twenty-three
packed it up
started over
just as fast as we can
selling tapes, making merch
in the back of the van
living hand to mouth
for the next five years
took up drinking wine
gave up drinking beers
signed another big deal
with a devil in a dress
a one hit wonder, i think,
described it best
decided to burn out
then to fade away
went back to the van
the very next day
built it up
made a living
without any help
made amazing friends
if I say so myself
if living like this at thirty-eight is a bore
then come on, God, please, give me thirty-eight more
and everybody knows I've seen a lot
yeah, I'm experienced
makes you feel so old after a while
just like our president
every time I come back in this town, I know
I finally know the difference between
going back and going home
yeah
back and going home
I do
Lyrics submitted by Dead Letters
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
this song is incredible. i love it. all i can say