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.
Remember when we were young
We got so good at being bad
We would shake responsibilities so carefully
And would protect everything we had
We'd spend our days outside
Waiting for the sun to set so our stars could shine
And we would dream of better times
Maybe I was holding on too tight
Every day
I get lost in a world that's in the way
I'm who I am, the wannabe
'Cause when I think about memories
I never seem to see the missing piece
And now I'm starting to believe
That it was always me
I try not to panic
But panic is all I can do when I feel confused
I'm drowning fast in all of the sad excuses I have used
'Cause all the lost balloons
That you and I let go too soon
Were much too ?? to see
Every day
I get lost in a world that's in the way
I'm who I am, the wannabe
'Cause when I think about memories
I never seem to see the missing piece
And now I'm starting to believe
That it was always me
Was it always me?
It's something so risky
Something I'll never feel
Maybe some day in time I will understand
But the tables are turning
And both ends are burning
I think it's okay 'cause the burning is all I am
Have I been standing in the dark too long to tell?
Have I been living with my eyes shut tight?
Or just hiding far too ?
Every day
I get lost in a world that's in the way
I'm who I am, the wannabe
'Cause when I think about memories
I never seem to see the missing piece
And now I'm starting to believe
That it was always me
I know it was always me
We got so good at being bad
We would shake responsibilities so carefully
And would protect everything we had
We'd spend our days outside
Waiting for the sun to set so our stars could shine
And we would dream of better times
Maybe I was holding on too tight
Every day
I get lost in a world that's in the way
I'm who I am, the wannabe
'Cause when I think about memories
I never seem to see the missing piece
And now I'm starting to believe
That it was always me
I try not to panic
But panic is all I can do when I feel confused
I'm drowning fast in all of the sad excuses I have used
'Cause all the lost balloons
That you and I let go too soon
Were much too ?? to see
Every day
I get lost in a world that's in the way
I'm who I am, the wannabe
'Cause when I think about memories
I never seem to see the missing piece
And now I'm starting to believe
That it was always me
Was it always me?
It's something so risky
Something I'll never feel
Maybe some day in time I will understand
But the tables are turning
And both ends are burning
I think it's okay 'cause the burning is all I am
Have I been standing in the dark too long to tell?
Have I been living with my eyes shut tight?
Or just hiding far too ?
Every day
I get lost in a world that's in the way
I'm who I am, the wannabe
'Cause when I think about memories
I never seem to see the missing piece
And now I'm starting to believe
That it was always me
I know it was always me
Lyrics submitted by Iheartstreaking
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in the chorus, i hear: "Every day I get lost in a world that’s in the way OF who I am AND wanna be"
and: "'Cause all the lost balloons That you and I let go too soon Were much too HIGH to see"
and after the guitar solo, "real" instead of "risky"? maybe? im not sure, though. and after that part, before the last chorus, "or just hiding far too WELL?"
hope that helps!