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 was born in Rochester
To a bookmaking man
Had a fake cigar shops
With the games on in the back
See them coming and going
Let them ride on thoroughbreds
Police chief and Tompaw wondering what was the spread
Carried rich men's bag through the brow
Trying to chase down a little white ball
I learned that any soft place wasn't good for me at all
Daddy come home fired up looking for some sort of release
He beat the hell out of Timmy, Timmy beat the hell out of me
I would hop the fence out to this government fields
Run 'til there was nothing more to feel
Lying there watching planes just disappear
Knowing one day I'm gonna fly on out of here
Well that same police chief came knockin' my first freshman day
Put my daddy in handcuffs and put his picture on the front page
To everyone of his suits and all my dignity
Walk the halls around the court waiting for any punk to set me free
I would hop the fence out to this government fields
Run 'til there was nothing more to feel
Lying there watching planes just disappear
Knowing one day I'm gonna fly on out of here
Well I got that call to Vietnam just like everyone else I knew
So scared of the hand grenades threw them farther than any other troop
I came home like an iron fist and Timmy tried to take my keys
Ripped open his front pocket that was the last time he touched me
Moved to an island out west up to Breckenridge
Met a mermaid on a glass boat and she promised me some kids
Bought a house in Oregon where you could touch both of the walls
Had a son named Benjamin and I was so scared of it all
Well Benjamin walked in the front room where I was cutting up my hash
Looked into those deep blue eyes wondering why I'd been so mad
Flushed a quarter pound down the drain praying for the mercy to confess
Trying to rip the boy from Rochester right out of my chest
We're gonna walk right out into these heavenly fields
Run like there was no more time to steal
My three boys in the grace of god I feel
Knowing one day you're gonna take me out of here
Knowing one day you're gonna take me out of here
To a bookmaking man
Had a fake cigar shops
With the games on in the back
See them coming and going
Let them ride on thoroughbreds
Police chief and Tompaw wondering what was the spread
Carried rich men's bag through the brow
Trying to chase down a little white ball
I learned that any soft place wasn't good for me at all
Daddy come home fired up looking for some sort of release
He beat the hell out of Timmy, Timmy beat the hell out of me
I would hop the fence out to this government fields
Run 'til there was nothing more to feel
Lying there watching planes just disappear
Knowing one day I'm gonna fly on out of here
Well that same police chief came knockin' my first freshman day
Put my daddy in handcuffs and put his picture on the front page
To everyone of his suits and all my dignity
Walk the halls around the court waiting for any punk to set me free
I would hop the fence out to this government fields
Run 'til there was nothing more to feel
Lying there watching planes just disappear
Knowing one day I'm gonna fly on out of here
Well I got that call to Vietnam just like everyone else I knew
So scared of the hand grenades threw them farther than any other troop
I came home like an iron fist and Timmy tried to take my keys
Ripped open his front pocket that was the last time he touched me
Moved to an island out west up to Breckenridge
Met a mermaid on a glass boat and she promised me some kids
Bought a house in Oregon where you could touch both of the walls
Had a son named Benjamin and I was so scared of it all
Well Benjamin walked in the front room where I was cutting up my hash
Looked into those deep blue eyes wondering why I'd been so mad
Flushed a quarter pound down the drain praying for the mercy to confess
Trying to rip the boy from Rochester right out of my chest
We're gonna walk right out into these heavenly fields
Run like there was no more time to steal
My three boys in the grace of god I feel
Knowing one day you're gonna take me out of here
Knowing one day you're gonna take me out of here
Lyrics submitted by icesk8ngurl, edited by bfreeby
Rochester Lyrics as written by Mat Kearney
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song reminded me so much of Bruce Springsteen so much when I heard it.
I almost thought it was a cover. Especially Springsteen from The River or Nebraska, songs like Independence Day or State Trooper.
so good though
Agreed, the melody in the verses is very close to those in "Highway Patrolman" on Nebraska.