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.
Lets be honest we're all criminals here so take the halo down
Autograph hunters making legends out of scumbags from a better town
21 at midnight it's a curse of a man who'd kill to put it off
Wrestling grizzly bears just to draw a crowd
A crowd that would of jumped at dogs
When you're 21 at midnight you act like a man
Look him in the eyes and say what you just said to me then
21 at midnight
Your tombstone in hand
You fight so hard to give away for free what you'll just want again
A virtual who's-who's of the who-cares, the self appointed king and queen
Better of Jester rather tame the troops than fertilize the village green
Hey I knew you back in 1999, I know you dont forget
Obligations plague you still why can't you shed em yet?
When you're 21 at midnight you act like a man
Look him in the eyes and say what you just said to me then
Your tombstone in hand
You fight so hard to give away for free what you''ll just want again
What you'll just want again
And on this night in a border town
You'll wave goodbye to your father's son
And on this night in a drunken brawl
You'll say hello to you poor child's father
Who's 21 at midnight
He thinks he's a man
Look him in the eyes and say what you just said to me then
21 at midnight
You tombstone in hand
You fight so hard to give away for free what you will just want again
What you will just want again
Autograph hunters making legends out of scumbags from a better town
21 at midnight it's a curse of a man who'd kill to put it off
Wrestling grizzly bears just to draw a crowd
A crowd that would of jumped at dogs
When you're 21 at midnight you act like a man
Look him in the eyes and say what you just said to me then
21 at midnight
Your tombstone in hand
You fight so hard to give away for free what you'll just want again
A virtual who's-who's of the who-cares, the self appointed king and queen
Better of Jester rather tame the troops than fertilize the village green
Hey I knew you back in 1999, I know you dont forget
Obligations plague you still why can't you shed em yet?
When you're 21 at midnight you act like a man
Look him in the eyes and say what you just said to me then
Your tombstone in hand
You fight so hard to give away for free what you''ll just want again
What you'll just want again
And on this night in a border town
You'll wave goodbye to your father's son
And on this night in a drunken brawl
You'll say hello to you poor child's father
Who's 21 at midnight
He thinks he's a man
Look him in the eyes and say what you just said to me then
21 at midnight
You tombstone in hand
You fight so hard to give away for free what you will just want again
What you will just want again
Lyrics submitted by IheartINDIE
21@12 Lyrics as written by Paul Granville Scott Hawley Luke Paquin
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is all just guesses, but since no one else has taken a stab at it:
The narrator is talking to his friend, who is looking in the mirror in a bathroom at a bar on the night before his 21st birthday. He's saying goodbye to his father's son --i.e. himself as a child --and hello to his child's father --which is himself as an adult.
He's feeling very ambivalent about leaving childhood behind --he's drunk already and getting in fights. The narrator and the birthday boy have known each other since they were 12 (1999). They idolize and envy some other guys also at the bar --really no better than they are ("scumbags from a better town"). The tombstone in his hand is his drink --maybe he's already trying to drink himself to death. He's fighting to give away his dignity and self-respect but he'll want them back when he sobers up.
He may also have a child already --that he isn't taking care of --some lines seem to hint at that: "fertilize the village green", "obligations plague you", "your poor child's father". However it might just be metaphorical.
Love this song, its so cool :) you know what else is cool, im the 1st to comment on this song XD
Great song