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.
The man of the moment is just way ahead of his time,
could be why you see just distance in his eyes
he could be watching ashes grow,
where all your best seeds were just now sown
but for all I know there's far more I don't
New rays of light must fight for a place between the leaves
so son don't seem surprised to find no shade beneath this tree
just like Abe you can't think twice
when offered your piece of the franchise
now every kid expects a birthright
Hand-me-down, hand-me-down oh brother,
now it's your turn, it's your turn to deliver
hand-me-down, hand-me-down oh brother,
what's the measure of a man, made to measure
It's some privilege to claim that only the strong survive -
if you can choose the time and place and what you'll sacrifice
we'll all get our piece of the dream
and the have-nots will have to take another hit for the team
well that's just how it's always been
It went something like - garden, tree, Adam and Eve, and Father, pray, forgive.
But if I never hear that shit again I'll live and live and live
and whatever made the world go round before
is probably what will keep it going round after they're gone
but for all I know there's much more I don't
Hand-me-down, hand-me-down oh brother,
now it's your turn, it's your turn to deliver
hand-me-down, hand-me-down oh brother,
what's the measure of a man, made to measure
made to measure
could be why you see just distance in his eyes
he could be watching ashes grow,
where all your best seeds were just now sown
but for all I know there's far more I don't
New rays of light must fight for a place between the leaves
so son don't seem surprised to find no shade beneath this tree
just like Abe you can't think twice
when offered your piece of the franchise
now every kid expects a birthright
Hand-me-down, hand-me-down oh brother,
now it's your turn, it's your turn to deliver
hand-me-down, hand-me-down oh brother,
what's the measure of a man, made to measure
It's some privilege to claim that only the strong survive -
if you can choose the time and place and what you'll sacrifice
we'll all get our piece of the dream
and the have-nots will have to take another hit for the team
well that's just how it's always been
It went something like - garden, tree, Adam and Eve, and Father, pray, forgive.
But if I never hear that shit again I'll live and live and live
and whatever made the world go round before
is probably what will keep it going round after they're gone
but for all I know there's much more I don't
Hand-me-down, hand-me-down oh brother,
now it's your turn, it's your turn to deliver
hand-me-down, hand-me-down oh brother,
what's the measure of a man, made to measure
made to measure
Lyrics submitted by ohkamikaze
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the second verse makes me think is a father telling his son that he must earn his place in the world and that he is not going to be sheltered by his family: "new rays of light must fight for a place between the leaves, so son don't seem surprised to find no shade beneath this tree"
I'm thinking it's more like, if you want to go a different way, not just marry and work, and have kids, there's nothing set up for you. Society's set in this way of doing things. 'Cause :<br /> "just like Abe you can't think twice<br /> when offered your piece of the franchise"<br /> You end up getting in line, because you can have it made if you conform(piece of the franchise)<br /> "now every kid expects a birthright"<br /> And you fall in line also because the idea of having children grows on you, and it's now that you should start thinking of their future.<br />
I'm thinking it's more like, if you want to go a different way, not just marry and work, and have kids, there's nothing set up for you. Society's set in this way of doing things. 'Cause :<br /> "just like Abe you can't think twice<br /> when offered your piece of the franchise"<br /> You end up getting in line, because you can have it made if you conform(piece of the franchise)<br /> "now every kid expects a birthright"<br /> And you fall in line also because the idea of having children grows on you, and it's now that you should start thinking of their future.<br />