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.
Everybody knows how it goes
How it goes when you can't let it show
When you try to speak your mind
But they say you're out of line
Everybody knows how it goes
You think you'll make it to the front
But that's exactly what they want
Everybody, everybody, everybody knows
Everybody knows that you don't get out
What you put in
Say goodbye to everything you knew
The world's about to turn on you again
There's no hope
Except for me and you
But they'll be onto both of us by then
'Cause that's just how it
Everytime their eyes tell a lie
A lie you and I would never buy
'Cause they sell it for a price
Two, times call it twice
Everytime their eyes tell a
Lie with me
Till I believe
Say goodbye to everything you knew
The world's about to turn on you again
There's no hope
Except for me and you
But they'll be onto both of us by then
'Cause that's just how it goes
Oh life, that's how it goes
But truth be told
I'm a spy
I'm the man who learned all the lies
Carry on with yourself
I won't speak if you don't tell
Breathe while you're breathing, yea
And believe what you believe in
This is how it goes
Yea, it's how it goes
Say goodbye to everything you knew
The world's about to turn on you again
There's no hope
Except for me and you
But they'll be onto both of us by then
'Cause that's just how it
Say goodbye to everything you knew
The world's about to turn on you again
There's no hope
Except for me and you
But they'll be onto both of us by then
'Cause that's just how it
Everybody knows how it goes
How it goes
How it goes
How it goes when you can't let it show
When you try to speak your mind
But they say you're out of line
Everybody knows how it goes
You think you'll make it to the front
But that's exactly what they want
Everybody, everybody, everybody knows
Everybody knows that you don't get out
What you put in
Say goodbye to everything you knew
The world's about to turn on you again
There's no hope
Except for me and you
But they'll be onto both of us by then
'Cause that's just how it
Everytime their eyes tell a lie
A lie you and I would never buy
'Cause they sell it for a price
Two, times call it twice
Everytime their eyes tell a
Lie with me
Till I believe
Say goodbye to everything you knew
The world's about to turn on you again
There's no hope
Except for me and you
But they'll be onto both of us by then
'Cause that's just how it goes
Oh life, that's how it goes
But truth be told
I'm a spy
I'm the man who learned all the lies
Carry on with yourself
I won't speak if you don't tell
Breathe while you're breathing, yea
And believe what you believe in
This is how it goes
Yea, it's how it goes
Say goodbye to everything you knew
The world's about to turn on you again
There's no hope
Except for me and you
But they'll be onto both of us by then
'Cause that's just how it
Say goodbye to everything you knew
The world's about to turn on you again
There's no hope
Except for me and you
But they'll be onto both of us by then
'Cause that's just how it
Everybody knows how it goes
How it goes
How it goes
Lyrics submitted by sarahsitus23
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
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