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.
It's a hurried up life
But it's the life I choose
No use in asking me to slow down
Cause I got nothing to lose
But time and time is all I've got
You know I born standing up with a guitar in my hand
I'm not trying to come on like Hollywood
But Hollywood is what I am
When we come into a new town
Everybody's there
When we play our music
Hands are in the air
When the music's over
You wonder where we are
I'm standing in the silence
With my old guitar
Rock is my life and this is my song
It's a crying shame
That some of us have not survived
No use in asking how it happened
But very few are left alive
I just wanna keep on makin' music
We gotta keep on keepin' on
You're only as good as your last record
I know that someday we'll be gone, gone
When we come into a new town
Everybody's there
When we play our music
Hands are in the air
When the music's over
You wonder where we are
I'm standing in the silence
With my old guitar
Rock is my life and this is my song
When we come into a new town
Everybody's there
When we play our music
Candles light the air
When the music's over, over
You wonder where we are
I'm standing in the silence
With my old guitar, my only friend
Rock is my life and this is my song
But it's the life I choose
No use in asking me to slow down
Cause I got nothing to lose
But time and time is all I've got
You know I born standing up with a guitar in my hand
I'm not trying to come on like Hollywood
But Hollywood is what I am
When we come into a new town
Everybody's there
When we play our music
Hands are in the air
When the music's over
You wonder where we are
I'm standing in the silence
With my old guitar
Rock is my life and this is my song
It's a crying shame
That some of us have not survived
No use in asking how it happened
But very few are left alive
I just wanna keep on makin' music
We gotta keep on keepin' on
You're only as good as your last record
I know that someday we'll be gone, gone
When we come into a new town
Everybody's there
When we play our music
Hands are in the air
When the music's over
You wonder where we are
I'm standing in the silence
With my old guitar
Rock is my life and this is my song
When we come into a new town
Everybody's there
When we play our music
Candles light the air
When the music's over, over
You wonder where we are
I'm standing in the silence
With my old guitar, my only friend
Rock is my life and this is my song
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Rock Is My Life and This Is My Song Lyrics as written by Randy Bachman
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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