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.
He felt so misunderstood that he learned how to play the recorder
Cause as far as he knew nobody else did that
He sat in his room working out tunes that he thought of
Cursed himself when the notes he played were flat
And when he played his recorder it took away all of his troubles
Like doing crosswords used to for a while
The girl that he liked had a boyfriend who liked to blow bubbles
And she had a smile that could make the whole world smile
But he'd seen a film where the unpopular kid
Says all the right stuff to the girl who doesn't hear it enough
From her guitar playing boyfriend with the new sports car
He heard her say to him, 'You're so unoriginal'
'I just want someone who's a little bit different'
'Who plays from another instrument instead of guitar'
So he wanted to be the first recorder playing rock n' roll star
They got together on a tidal wave of public opinion
From the misfit boys to the swoonsome girls at school
So many orders, sales of recorders hit millions
And showing you were blowing bubbles wasn't cool
Signed to a new major label who said they were able to start it
If he could just punk up his hair and wear a chain around his wrist
And well, soon he was unleashed when they said there was a niche in the market
For a hobo solo wind instrumentalist
But he'd seen a film where the popular kid shakes hand with the prime minister
And everything gets a little sinister and eventually you have to give up the girl
Well, she said to him through a slightly forced grin
'I've met a boy who plays the violin and I think he could be the next big thing'
'The recorder is just so yesterday' and I hated the world
No longer wanted to be the first recorder playing rock n' roll star
He felt so misunderstood that he learned how to play the recorder
Because as far as he knew nobody else did that
Oh but he never played in public despite the requests that he oughta
Because to be misunderstood you gotta be a diplomat
And that's the story of the first recorder playing rock n'roll star
Cause as far as he knew nobody else did that
He sat in his room working out tunes that he thought of
Cursed himself when the notes he played were flat
And when he played his recorder it took away all of his troubles
Like doing crosswords used to for a while
The girl that he liked had a boyfriend who liked to blow bubbles
And she had a smile that could make the whole world smile
But he'd seen a film where the unpopular kid
Says all the right stuff to the girl who doesn't hear it enough
From her guitar playing boyfriend with the new sports car
He heard her say to him, 'You're so unoriginal'
'I just want someone who's a little bit different'
'Who plays from another instrument instead of guitar'
So he wanted to be the first recorder playing rock n' roll star
They got together on a tidal wave of public opinion
From the misfit boys to the swoonsome girls at school
So many orders, sales of recorders hit millions
And showing you were blowing bubbles wasn't cool
Signed to a new major label who said they were able to start it
If he could just punk up his hair and wear a chain around his wrist
And well, soon he was unleashed when they said there was a niche in the market
For a hobo solo wind instrumentalist
But he'd seen a film where the popular kid shakes hand with the prime minister
And everything gets a little sinister and eventually you have to give up the girl
Well, she said to him through a slightly forced grin
'I've met a boy who plays the violin and I think he could be the next big thing'
'The recorder is just so yesterday' and I hated the world
No longer wanted to be the first recorder playing rock n' roll star
He felt so misunderstood that he learned how to play the recorder
Because as far as he knew nobody else did that
Oh but he never played in public despite the requests that he oughta
Because to be misunderstood you gotta be a diplomat
And that's the story of the first recorder playing rock n'roll star
Lyrics submitted by soconfg182
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