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.
They say you ought a think about it
Spend a little time without it
Do you have to let me go
Just to figure this thing out
No I couldn't live without it
Don't even wanna think about it
But we've never been here before
And it's raining
And the daylight's fading
Got a ticket to ride
Got a ticket to Rome
I just hope you can find your way back home
Just do what you gotta do
See what you gotta see
Be who you wanna be
Leave if you gotta leave
Just figure this thing out
Take a chance
Take a trip
Take a swing
Take a hit
Take a look at your life
Cause at the end of the ride
I'll be there on the other side
I know I couldn't live with myself
If your heart was somewhere else
When you're lying in bed
Wondering that sleepless wonder
As a matter of fact
I wish you would
Find your way back
To somewhere good enough
Where you can see
That I'm for you
And you still need me
Got a ticket to ride
Got a reason to roam
I just hope you can find your way back home
Just do what you gotta do
See what you gotta see
Be who you wanna be
Leave if you gotta leave
Just figure this thing out
Take a chance
Take a trip
Take a swing
Take a hit
Take a look at your life
Cause at the end of the ride
I'll be there on the other side
Please don't take this thing for granted
Or hide it from the sun
Oh you know I'll wait forever
But your silence tells me
It might be a while
Just do what you gotta do
See what you gotta see
Be who you wanna be
Leave if you gotta leave
Just even this thing out
Take a chance
Take a trip
Take a swig
Take a hit
Take a look at your life
Cause I know you're justified
I'll be there on the other side
Cause at the end of the ride
I'll be there on the other side
Cause at the end of the ride I'll be there
Spend a little time without it
Do you have to let me go
Just to figure this thing out
No I couldn't live without it
Don't even wanna think about it
But we've never been here before
And it's raining
And the daylight's fading
Got a ticket to ride
Got a ticket to Rome
I just hope you can find your way back home
Just do what you gotta do
See what you gotta see
Be who you wanna be
Leave if you gotta leave
Just figure this thing out
Take a chance
Take a trip
Take a swing
Take a hit
Take a look at your life
Cause at the end of the ride
I'll be there on the other side
I know I couldn't live with myself
If your heart was somewhere else
When you're lying in bed
Wondering that sleepless wonder
As a matter of fact
I wish you would
Find your way back
To somewhere good enough
Where you can see
That I'm for you
And you still need me
Got a ticket to ride
Got a reason to roam
I just hope you can find your way back home
Just do what you gotta do
See what you gotta see
Be who you wanna be
Leave if you gotta leave
Just figure this thing out
Take a chance
Take a trip
Take a swing
Take a hit
Take a look at your life
Cause at the end of the ride
I'll be there on the other side
Please don't take this thing for granted
Or hide it from the sun
Oh you know I'll wait forever
But your silence tells me
It might be a while
Just do what you gotta do
See what you gotta see
Be who you wanna be
Leave if you gotta leave
Just even this thing out
Take a chance
Take a trip
Take a swig
Take a hit
Take a look at your life
Cause I know you're justified
I'll be there on the other side
Cause at the end of the ride
I'll be there on the other side
Cause at the end of the ride I'll be there
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