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.
[kris]
get off your high horse
where empty words carry so far
come down and see the weight they are
they tip no scales, their cuts skin deep
never worth the time you put in
years spent fostering
misguided abuse
you're nothing but a stranger to me
a blank face passed on the street
nothing in your life seems familiar
i've broken so many bonds
out grown relationships
is it me? i hope it's not me.
but this is my greatest fear
everyone will disappear
i lost to you abuse and routine
trapped in your room
your world never grew
outside those four walls
inhibited by the in and externals
i couldn't give you the strenght of my will
grow up, not apart
can't you hear me plead?
here in your driveway
hours spent contemplating
our youth and the greying years to come
days filled with nothing meant the world to me
"the family" came to mean nothing
if he could forgive a traitor,
why can't we move pass these trivial things?
if he could forgive a kiss on the cheek
why can't we move pass a kiss on the lips?
thirty pieces, three failed attempts
what's the say i won't go through this again
"if they say knives, then we say knives"
i won't to lose another to this fight
matthias don't let me down
maybe one day we'll meet up downstream
a forgotten handshake brings you to me
there's so many facts of life
we grow together
we grow apart
noghing lasts
this gold won't stay
but i'll stay
i'll stay true
get off your high horse
where empty words carry so far
come down and see the weight they are
they tip no scales, their cuts skin deep
never worth the time you put in
years spent fostering
misguided abuse
you're nothing but a stranger to me
a blank face passed on the street
nothing in your life seems familiar
i've broken so many bonds
out grown relationships
is it me? i hope it's not me.
but this is my greatest fear
everyone will disappear
i lost to you abuse and routine
trapped in your room
your world never grew
outside those four walls
inhibited by the in and externals
i couldn't give you the strenght of my will
grow up, not apart
can't you hear me plead?
here in your driveway
hours spent contemplating
our youth and the greying years to come
days filled with nothing meant the world to me
"the family" came to mean nothing
if he could forgive a traitor,
why can't we move pass these trivial things?
if he could forgive a kiss on the cheek
why can't we move pass a kiss on the lips?
thirty pieces, three failed attempts
what's the say i won't go through this again
"if they say knives, then we say knives"
i won't to lose another to this fight
matthias don't let me down
maybe one day we'll meet up downstream
a forgotten handshake brings you to me
there's so many facts of life
we grow together
we grow apart
noghing lasts
this gold won't stay
but i'll stay
i'll stay true
Lyrics submitted by SyntaxFree
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This made me weep. 'you're nothing but a stranger to me a blank face passed on the street nothing in your life seems familiar i've broken so many bonds out grown relationships is it me? i hope it's not me. [...] maybe one day we'll meet up downstream'