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.
Let's go for a drive, see the town tonight
There's nothing to do but I don't mind when I'm with you
This town's so strange they built it to change
And while we sleep we know the streets get rearranged
My old friends, we were so different then
Before your war against the suburbs begin
Before it began
Now the music divides us into tribes
You grew your hair so I grew mine
You said the past won't rest
Until we jump the fence and leave it behind
My old friends, I can remember when
You cut your hair, I never saw you again
Now the cities we live in could be distant stars
And I searched for you in every passing car
The night's so long
Yeah the night's so long
I've been living in the shadows of your song
Living in the shadows of your song
In the suburbs I, I learned to drive
You told me we would never survive
So grab your mother's keys, we leave tonight
But you started a war that we can't win
We keep erasing all the streets we grew up in
Now the music divides us into tribes
Choose your side, I'll choose my side
All my old friends they don't know me now
All my old friends are staring through me now
All my old friends they don't know me now
All my old friends they don't know me now
All my old friends, they
There's nothing to do but I don't mind when I'm with you
This town's so strange they built it to change
And while we sleep we know the streets get rearranged
My old friends, we were so different then
Before your war against the suburbs begin
Before it began
Now the music divides us into tribes
You grew your hair so I grew mine
You said the past won't rest
Until we jump the fence and leave it behind
My old friends, I can remember when
You cut your hair, I never saw you again
Now the cities we live in could be distant stars
And I searched for you in every passing car
The night's so long
Yeah the night's so long
I've been living in the shadows of your song
Living in the shadows of your song
In the suburbs I, I learned to drive
You told me we would never survive
So grab your mother's keys, we leave tonight
But you started a war that we can't win
We keep erasing all the streets we grew up in
Now the music divides us into tribes
Choose your side, I'll choose my side
All my old friends they don't know me now
All my old friends are staring through me now
All my old friends they don't know me now
All my old friends they don't know me now
All my old friends, they
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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This and The Suburbs are my favorite songs of the album. From my point of view, the whole album thaks about the grown up, the suburbs refers to their childhood, and each song its a chapter in life, check out the lyrics of each song in the right order, and perhaps you will agree with me. I think "Suburban War" its about choosing different paths in life and leaving the past behind, go away from the suburbs. In this song he went back to his old town, and without the people he used to know its like visiting a new strange place. They used to live in the suburbs together till the person he talks to in the song choose his/her own path and after that, evertone else do the same thing. The "cut of hair" means the way to go and the "grew of hair" its the time walking across that path. All the final paragraph could mean that he had walk away from his friends paths, and thats why they dont know him now.
I agree. :D