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.
I've been obviously on the verge of a mental breakdown this week
Stuck between your dirty sheets and back-lit memories
And I've been putting off things like getting my shit out of your apartment
I've been making up excuses about the things that you might need
And I've been trying to find out where everyone's been
But they're nowhere and I'm nothing
And I've been trying to stay as busy as I can
I finally broke on Christmas Eve
In an Outback Steakhouse bathroom while my family ordered for me
Haven't been losing sleep, no I pass out almost instantly
The bad dreams get worse every week
I think I'm losing a little of me
I'm getting better, but it's in small steps
I'm working on sleeping on the left
I just can't blame New York for this
And so I'm down again, but this time it's different
I'm mourning something that I miss
And that's better than being hopeless
I'm counting back on all my mistakes
From the back of the cop car where you told me you loved me
'Cause after that night, I got scared and I'm sorry
But hey, what can I say?
And I've been trying to find out where everyone's been
But they're nowhere
I'm still nothing
And I've been trying to find old friends
I'm getting better, but it's in small steps
I'm working on sleeping on the left
I just can't blame New York for this
And so I'm down again, but this time it's different
I'm mourning something that I miss
And that's better than being hopeless
It's getting weird to think
About the house on Manson Street
And how neither of us live there
It's probably empty
She watches Breakfast at Tiffany's, it calms her completely
I guess Sarah Marshall does the same for me
It's nothing when she's leaning on me and saying she's sorry
I'm obviously on the verge of a mental breakdown this week
I'm getting better, but it's in small steps
I'm working on sleeping on the left
I just can't blame New York for this
And so I'm down again, but this time it's different
I'm mourning something that I miss
And that's better than being hopeless
Stuck between your dirty sheets and back-lit memories
And I've been putting off things like getting my shit out of your apartment
I've been making up excuses about the things that you might need
And I've been trying to find out where everyone's been
But they're nowhere and I'm nothing
And I've been trying to stay as busy as I can
I finally broke on Christmas Eve
In an Outback Steakhouse bathroom while my family ordered for me
Haven't been losing sleep, no I pass out almost instantly
The bad dreams get worse every week
I think I'm losing a little of me
I'm getting better, but it's in small steps
I'm working on sleeping on the left
I just can't blame New York for this
And so I'm down again, but this time it's different
I'm mourning something that I miss
And that's better than being hopeless
I'm counting back on all my mistakes
From the back of the cop car where you told me you loved me
'Cause after that night, I got scared and I'm sorry
But hey, what can I say?
And I've been trying to find out where everyone's been
But they're nowhere
I'm still nothing
And I've been trying to find old friends
I'm getting better, but it's in small steps
I'm working on sleeping on the left
I just can't blame New York for this
And so I'm down again, but this time it's different
I'm mourning something that I miss
And that's better than being hopeless
It's getting weird to think
About the house on Manson Street
And how neither of us live there
It's probably empty
She watches Breakfast at Tiffany's, it calms her completely
I guess Sarah Marshall does the same for me
It's nothing when she's leaning on me and saying she's sorry
I'm obviously on the verge of a mental breakdown this week
I'm getting better, but it's in small steps
I'm working on sleeping on the left
I just can't blame New York for this
And so I'm down again, but this time it's different
I'm mourning something that I miss
And that's better than being hopeless
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Great version of a great song,
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BryanMac is right, it's about The Upsides leaking on Christmas Eve (and breaking up with his girlfriend).
dailymusicreviews.blogspot.com/2010/01/interview-wonder-years.html
Soupy: "I am a very anxious person. It doesn't take much to get to me and takes very little more to cause me to momentarily break and so, finding out the album leaked on Christmas Eve, right before going to dinner with my nana shook me a little (a lot. A fucking lot). Some things really bothered me."
makes more sense now, I just didn't understand why he would get so upset about that in particular
Cause these guys put their heart and souls in to making the upsides the greatest thing they have ever done. And they wanted to be rewarded for it, not have a bunch of people illegally downloading it. These guys are the most amazing band.