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.
Oh
I've been down that road
Holding my ground and it kills me
'Cause you're so cool to be around
When you're around
But I think you've lost you
And I think of other lovers lost
And the soul wrenching cost
And I'd rather have you in my life, yeah
Feeling down
But empowered just the same
High on the pain that I'm saying no to
Don't want to be another lesson learned
Another stripe you've earned
So goodbye
Sometimes the light just fades
Yeah the ball of yarn that just runs out
And you hold on for dear life
Coming from a place of doubt
Sometimes the light just fades
Yeah the ball of yarn just runs out
And you hold on for dear life
Coming from a place of doubt
Well I've been down that road once or twice before
Once or twice before
I ain't going there again
You can't take me there
I won't follow you
I will walk away
While I still can call you a friend
Led me down the garden path
Then who's left with the aftermath
And it doesn't add up
It's a mixed equation
Was in for the long haul
Yeah you were my all-in-all
Guess I was your recreation
Sometimes you swim and swim
Expecting to see something more
And your whole soul gives out
Before you reach the shore
Sometimes you swim
And you see nothing more
And your whole soul gives out
Before you reach the shore
Well
I've been down that road once or twice before
Once or twice before
I ain't going down again
You can't take me there
I won't follow you
I won't follow you
To some bitter bitter end
Whoh, woah, I've been down that road
Soothing music plays
Used to think of our some days
When there was a someday
But it came too soon
Soothing music plays
Used to think of our some days
When there was a someday
But it came too soon
Just as well
'Cause I've been down that road once or twice before
Once or twice before
I ain't going down again
You can't take me there
I won't follow you
I won't follow you
Oh no
I've been down that road, been down that road before
Ain't going down again
Oh no
I ain't going there again
I've been down that road, been down that road before
Ain't going down again
Um
I've been down that road, been down that road before
Ain't going down again
Oh, you can't take me there
I've been down that road, been down that road before
Ain't going down again
Whoa
I've been down that road, been down that road before
Ain't going down again
I've been down that road
Holding my ground and it kills me
'Cause you're so cool to be around
When you're around
But I think you've lost you
And I think of other lovers lost
And the soul wrenching cost
And I'd rather have you in my life, yeah
Feeling down
But empowered just the same
High on the pain that I'm saying no to
Don't want to be another lesson learned
Another stripe you've earned
So goodbye
Sometimes the light just fades
Yeah the ball of yarn that just runs out
And you hold on for dear life
Coming from a place of doubt
Sometimes the light just fades
Yeah the ball of yarn just runs out
And you hold on for dear life
Coming from a place of doubt
Well I've been down that road once or twice before
Once or twice before
I ain't going there again
You can't take me there
I won't follow you
I will walk away
While I still can call you a friend
Led me down the garden path
Then who's left with the aftermath
And it doesn't add up
It's a mixed equation
Was in for the long haul
Yeah you were my all-in-all
Guess I was your recreation
Sometimes you swim and swim
Expecting to see something more
And your whole soul gives out
Before you reach the shore
Sometimes you swim
And you see nothing more
And your whole soul gives out
Before you reach the shore
Well
I've been down that road once or twice before
Once or twice before
I ain't going down again
You can't take me there
I won't follow you
I won't follow you
To some bitter bitter end
Whoh, woah, I've been down that road
Soothing music plays
Used to think of our some days
When there was a someday
But it came too soon
Soothing music plays
Used to think of our some days
When there was a someday
But it came too soon
Just as well
'Cause I've been down that road once or twice before
Once or twice before
I ain't going down again
You can't take me there
I won't follow you
I won't follow you
Oh no
I've been down that road, been down that road before
Ain't going down again
Oh no
I ain't going there again
I've been down that road, been down that road before
Ain't going down again
Um
I've been down that road, been down that road before
Ain't going down again
Oh, you can't take me there
I've been down that road, been down that road before
Ain't going down again
Whoa
I've been down that road, been down that road before
Ain't going down again
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Down That Road Lyrics as written by Gary Haase Deborah Gibson
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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