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.
Standing beside myself
Watching me drop the ball again
You are hopelessly content
I am choking to death
We were sitting on the bench
Where the Green Top used to be
Waiting on a message from her majesty
Holding tight to one another's hands intermittently
And I am standing on the beach where I sleep
Trying to wash the smell of you off my teeth
I am writing it down while you bleed
And I am try to remember to breathe
You said, "I wish my life were exciting enough
To be filmed in real time."
But you walk home the same way every day:
Past the burned-out lights of the Trust Company
And I am writing my songs on the ripped out pages of Blender magazine
Playing my guitar through a matchbox amp and beer-soaked coterie
Losing every thought like I lose my mind
When you drop the apathy that you hold so well
And I am standing on the beach where I sleep
Trying to wash the smell of you from my teeth
I am writing it down while you bleed
And I am try to remember to breathe
I know it's only my soul, but I like it
I sold my heart and body in the Garden State today
I got a postcard from an old-time donut shop in Chicago that says,
"I love you, I need you, and baby, I would die for you"
And I'm writing my thoughts on the ripped-out pages of Blender magazine
Playing my guitar through a matchbox amp and beer-soaked coterie
Losing every thought like I lose my mind
When you drop the apathy that you hold so well
And I am standing on the beach where I sleep
Trying to wash the smell of you from my teeth
I am writing it down while you bleed
And I am try to remember to breathe
Watching me drop the ball again
You are hopelessly content
I am choking to death
We were sitting on the bench
Where the Green Top used to be
Waiting on a message from her majesty
Holding tight to one another's hands intermittently
And I am standing on the beach where I sleep
Trying to wash the smell of you off my teeth
I am writing it down while you bleed
And I am try to remember to breathe
You said, "I wish my life were exciting enough
To be filmed in real time."
But you walk home the same way every day:
Past the burned-out lights of the Trust Company
And I am writing my songs on the ripped out pages of Blender magazine
Playing my guitar through a matchbox amp and beer-soaked coterie
Losing every thought like I lose my mind
When you drop the apathy that you hold so well
And I am standing on the beach where I sleep
Trying to wash the smell of you from my teeth
I am writing it down while you bleed
And I am try to remember to breathe
I know it's only my soul, but I like it
I sold my heart and body in the Garden State today
I got a postcard from an old-time donut shop in Chicago that says,
"I love you, I need you, and baby, I would die for you"
And I'm writing my thoughts on the ripped-out pages of Blender magazine
Playing my guitar through a matchbox amp and beer-soaked coterie
Losing every thought like I lose my mind
When you drop the apathy that you hold so well
And I am standing on the beach where I sleep
Trying to wash the smell of you from my teeth
I am writing it down while you bleed
And I am try to remember to breathe
Lyrics submitted by concreteblues
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