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.
One time weekly rate twelve by twelve room
Strapped down to the bed now pump up the Valium
My mind is wide asleep my conscience deep awake
The promises I keep are not the ones I make
I count the caustic causes I lost count of regrets
A surplus of good intentions don't provide me with content
All I want is just a little content
One time monthly rate still no breathing room
Pressures building up so pump up the Valium
I choose the beaten path I've been to where it leads
Why I keep comin' back a mystery to me
I found what I've been seeking but it's too late for me to care
My aspirations leaking form a hole I can't repair
Maybe I just don't want it repaired
Strapped down to the bed now pump up the Valium
My mind is wide asleep my conscience deep awake
The promises I keep are not the ones I make
I count the caustic causes I lost count of regrets
A surplus of good intentions don't provide me with content
All I want is just a little content
One time monthly rate still no breathing room
Pressures building up so pump up the Valium
I choose the beaten path I've been to where it leads
Why I keep comin' back a mystery to me
I found what I've been seeking but it's too late for me to care
My aspirations leaking form a hole I can't repair
Maybe I just don't want it repaired
Lyrics submitted by AtomicGarden, edited by jwax8242o
Pump Up The Valium Lyrics as written by Micahel Burkett
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of the best NOFx songs! "A surplus of good intentions don't provide me with content all I want is a little content." WOW!
I agree.One of the best.This one and"release the hostages".
its "the promises i keep" not "the promises i deep"
this dude forgot the verses that Eric Melvin sings they are: " one time weekly rate 12 by 12 foot room strapped down to the bed now pump up the valium." and: "one time monthly rate still no breathing room pressure's building up so pump up the valium." and one last thing this song is called Pump Up The Valium not Pump Up The Valuum. and its about a trademark drug that is suposed to relax you and gets you wasted if you take too much.
i love this song. i got it on a punk o rama cd, and every second of is awesome!
L.O.S.E.R, the spelling that nofx uses 'valuum' is how its spelled on the cd because they cant use the correct spelling 'valium' due to copyright laws or some crap like that
the SONG title is spelled Valium, but the ALBUM title is spelled Valuum. the song is not on the album of the same title because nofx is just cool like that.
nevertheless it still rocks
yeah the song is spelled Pump Up the Valium, the album is Valuum to avoid copyrights
its spelt valuum because of some copyright law, read the CD packet on "45 or 46 songs that werent good enough...."