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.
Give us a name
So we know where we're starting from
Focus the wave
Between the cars
Under the sun
Floodlights on the rail yard hold you, hold you like
Headlights on the highway pull you, pull you
But no one turns them off
No one turns them off like you do
Under cover of night
We go up the river side
Show us your hands
As we come again
The invisible man
Starlight on the railway
Holds you, holds you like
Headlights on the highway pull you, pull you
But no one turns them off
No one turns them off like you do
If all we have is time to cover for
You've got secrets keep your secrets don't we all
I'm trying to shake these pictures but I'm losing
Over bridges under tunnels keep it moving
Careless causes heaven's gonna
Burn a hole beside my bed
Time moves slow so tap the tempo
Frozen on the string you broke
Houseless haunted voices gonna
Shake the cup beside my bed
Sound move slow so tap the tempo
Stretched out on the string you broke
If all we have is time to cover for
You've got secrets keep your secrets don't we all
Under cover of night
We go up the river side
Show us your hands
As we come again
The invisible man
So we know where we're starting from
Focus the wave
Between the cars
Under the sun
Floodlights on the rail yard hold you, hold you like
Headlights on the highway pull you, pull you
But no one turns them off
No one turns them off like you do
Under cover of night
We go up the river side
Show us your hands
As we come again
The invisible man
Starlight on the railway
Holds you, holds you like
Headlights on the highway pull you, pull you
But no one turns them off
No one turns them off like you do
If all we have is time to cover for
You've got secrets keep your secrets don't we all
I'm trying to shake these pictures but I'm losing
Over bridges under tunnels keep it moving
Careless causes heaven's gonna
Burn a hole beside my bed
Time moves slow so tap the tempo
Frozen on the string you broke
Houseless haunted voices gonna
Shake the cup beside my bed
Sound move slow so tap the tempo
Stretched out on the string you broke
If all we have is time to cover for
You've got secrets keep your secrets don't we all
Under cover of night
We go up the river side
Show us your hands
As we come again
The invisible man
Lyrics submitted by sickening
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There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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I'm getting vibes these 'invisible men' are Kevin Moore & Jim Matheos.