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 took a night shift, another nickel on the dime
Try to play it straight and make it different this time
Still waiting to meet the next ex-wife
It's either watching these gauges for Monsanto
Or a bar-back job for the casino
The Army won't want me after what this body's been through
Would you take me back North Carolina?
Would you take me back Arkansas?
Blissful days still there to remember
Methamphetamine was the final straw
I had a killer job in a backup band playin' guitar in Branson
Two shows a night brought the money to chase down sin
Now it's another weekend and I'm lonely at home
Late night TV, evangelist drone
I'm healthy now but I really don't know if I'll ever be free
Would you take me back North Carolina?
Would you take me back Arkansas?
Blissful days still there to remember
Methamphetamine was the final straw
Try to play it straight and make it different this time
Still waiting to meet the next ex-wife
It's either watching these gauges for Monsanto
Or a bar-back job for the casino
The Army won't want me after what this body's been through
Would you take me back North Carolina?
Would you take me back Arkansas?
Blissful days still there to remember
Methamphetamine was the final straw
I had a killer job in a backup band playin' guitar in Branson
Two shows a night brought the money to chase down sin
Now it's another weekend and I'm lonely at home
Late night TV, evangelist drone
I'm healthy now but I really don't know if I'll ever be free
Would you take me back North Carolina?
Would you take me back Arkansas?
Blissful days still there to remember
Methamphetamine was the final straw
Lyrics submitted by die kleine Hexe
Methamphetamine Lyrics as written by Jay Stuart Farrar
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I love this song. Maybe because I'm from NC, but it really grabbed me the first time I heard it. Jay played this recently when he did the Trace 20th anniversary tour show in NC, and it was great. I've heard some say that earlier recordings said "Take me back to North Carolina.." I'm glad he settled on "Take me back, North Carolina" for the album. It has a much deeper meaning. As if he is saying he has done so much that he doesn't deserve to go back to NC, and wanting to know if that more innocent part of his life would even allow him to come back.