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.
Come on underachievers
Come on all you underpass believers
We'll give you the skill for street livin'
It feels pretty great to just give in,
So just give in
Dropouts, repeat offenders
We'll take the weary, weak, the street bartenders
Show 'em the best times are on the street
Satisfaction through the thrill of defeat,
Ain't it sweet
Once you stop yourself from caring
About owning stuff, that's when you wanna start sharing
Cause all the things we want are cheap or free
I define success as not working
And I live like a king
We've got no competition
We've got no accomplished mission
We just wanna live and let others live
Of course we'll take anything you wanna give,
So fucking give
Come on, dance like a retard
Life's an endless party not a punch card
I don't understand some people's drive
Let's just fuck and drink and be alive,
Not just survive.
Come on all you underpass believers
We'll give you the skill for street livin'
It feels pretty great to just give in,
So just give in
Dropouts, repeat offenders
We'll take the weary, weak, the street bartenders
Show 'em the best times are on the street
Satisfaction through the thrill of defeat,
Ain't it sweet
Once you stop yourself from caring
About owning stuff, that's when you wanna start sharing
Cause all the things we want are cheap or free
I define success as not working
And I live like a king
We've got no competition
We've got no accomplished mission
We just wanna live and let others live
Of course we'll take anything you wanna give,
So fucking give
Come on, dance like a retard
Life's an endless party not a punch card
I don't understand some people's drive
Let's just fuck and drink and be alive,
Not just survive.
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
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.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
The Agony of Victory is a book about athletes that excelled in their sports, but there's a catch to success. It's like a drug, when someone is driven to succeed they need more and more. Eventually it gets to the point where it controls you and there is just no way to live up to your own expectations anymore. No matter how much money you make or what awards you receive... it doesn't feel like winning anymore. Notice how the song follows, suits and ladders. I'm guessing this song is about someone that was successful at a young age. They made a lot of cash, won awards, but that isn't what they really wanted. In the end he thinks it cost him the things that would have made him happy. Like a lesser Citizen Kane, he just wants his rosebud back. He resents his money and secretly hopes he loses it all, but can't give it up
The first several lines are him telling the people that have never been where he has that they are the real lucky ones. They will never know it, but they are the real winners.
"Satisfaction through the thrill of defeat, aint it sweet?" He wants to lose it all so he doesn't have to worry about responsibility and can be truly free.
"Once you stop yourself from caring About owning stuff, that's when you wanna start sharing" He quit caring about owning things for the sake of owning them. He'd rather give to people that need it, (i'd assume that wanting money to buy things isn't what he means by sharing, if you need a new liver he'd help if you want a new tv you can go fuck yourself)
"All the things we want in life are cheap or free" The things he really enjoys are cheap or better yet free. To spend time with genuine friends, a woman that isn't interested in him for his bank account, listening to music... all cheap or free...
"I define success as not working and I live like a king" He wants to make his money from something he enjoys doing, that way it isn't work anymore it's play. Also he probably doesn't need to work much anymore so long as he is happy with what he already has.
"We've got no competition We've got no accomplished mission" He doesn't want to put up with petty competition, deadlines, and all the other bullshit that comes with the life he thought he wanted. He wants to get away from people that would tear him down in order to get ahead or to feel better about themselves.
"Come on, dance like a retard Life's an endless party not a punch card I don't understand some people's drive Let's just fuck and drink and be alive, not just survive." This sums it all up pretty neatly, Quit caring about what people think and just do what you want (no one gets caught). Spend your time worrying about what you enjoy not about your career. Actually live your life by spending it doing what you love, doing anything less is a waste and not worth it.
Thank you for listening.
"of course we'll take anything you wanna give, so fucking give"<br /> <br /> I like your explanation, but when I heard the above line it struck me that he just was making fun of those gutterpunks who supposedly live free but really just live on the handouts of others.