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.
sixteen wrote our names in a book
thirty tossed his bag and his smug look
seven ditched his shoe
six miles south of Caribou
now it's night of the first day
they're either gone
or i can't see straight
am I awake am I half dead
when will i get to stop
am i in over my head
am i awake am i half dead
come dawn five more were gone
Forty sighed through the rain as we walked on
fifty five lost his mind
in the shadow of Presque Isle
he lasted longer than we would have guessed
but he got his ticket next
am i awake, am i half dead
how is it i'm still in? am i in over my head
am i awake am i half dead
two days in the crowds begin to grow
they all roared as twelve fell in the road
nobody knew who he was
nobody yet had lost
the prize never thinks of the cost
long walk turns into long wait
only twenty three made the interstate
my feet tire under falling weight
we keep straight, we age
Augusta and Portland two great blurs
with few mistakes
eighty one hit the ground
that familiar wet mailsack sound
fifty dropped for the fourth time
only five of us remained to cross the Massachusetts state line
blind to touch, deaf to death
am i now at the end? am i the only one left
blind to touch, deaf to sound
the hand on my shoulder was the only thing
i couldn't walk down
thirty tossed his bag and his smug look
seven ditched his shoe
six miles south of Caribou
now it's night of the first day
they're either gone
or i can't see straight
am I awake am I half dead
when will i get to stop
am i in over my head
am i awake am i half dead
come dawn five more were gone
Forty sighed through the rain as we walked on
fifty five lost his mind
in the shadow of Presque Isle
he lasted longer than we would have guessed
but he got his ticket next
am i awake, am i half dead
how is it i'm still in? am i in over my head
am i awake am i half dead
two days in the crowds begin to grow
they all roared as twelve fell in the road
nobody knew who he was
nobody yet had lost
the prize never thinks of the cost
long walk turns into long wait
only twenty three made the interstate
my feet tire under falling weight
we keep straight, we age
Augusta and Portland two great blurs
with few mistakes
eighty one hit the ground
that familiar wet mailsack sound
fifty dropped for the fourth time
only five of us remained to cross the Massachusetts state line
blind to touch, deaf to death
am i now at the end? am i the only one left
blind to touch, deaf to sound
the hand on my shoulder was the only thing
i couldn't walk down
Lyrics submitted by joe_yoga
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This song is based on Richard Bachman's "The Long Walk". Poetic license taken with #s and sequences.