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.
Get born, get ahead
Snatch it all and like they said
It's not enough
It's not enough
Grow up, go to school
Do your homework, follow the rules
It's not enough
It's not enough
Graduate, get laid
Get obsessed with getting paid
It's not enough
It's not enough
New car, new clothes
Get yourself a second home
It's not enough
It's not enough
Everything you have
Not enough
Everything you want
Not enough
Go green, chore the teen
Eating right, staying lean
It's not enough
Not enough
Make up, make out
Make it work, throw it out
It's not enough
Not enough
Get high, get spent
How you gonna pay the rent?
It's not enough
Not enough
Go there, look at that
Fly around the world and then
It's not enough
It's not enough
Everything you have
Not enough
Everything you want
Not enough
Yeah, everything you've bought
Not enough
And everything you want
Not enough
When I was a boy
Laying in the grass
I would always dream
Of what I didn't have
And time meant nothing to me
And not a thing to us
I could never believe
In what I couldn't touch
Ohh-oh, ohh, ohh-oh, ohh
Now I sit and watch
The mellowy room
I'm an old man now
And the flowers are in bloom
And all the pretty young things
Pass by my window
And I'd gladly give up my soul
For another go
Ohh, love is all there is
(loss is all there is)
Ohh, love is all there is
Get born get ahead
Snatch it all, it's like I said
It's not enough
Snatch it all and like they said
It's not enough
It's not enough
Grow up, go to school
Do your homework, follow the rules
It's not enough
It's not enough
Graduate, get laid
Get obsessed with getting paid
It's not enough
It's not enough
New car, new clothes
Get yourself a second home
It's not enough
It's not enough
Everything you have
Not enough
Everything you want
Not enough
Go green, chore the teen
Eating right, staying lean
It's not enough
Not enough
Make up, make out
Make it work, throw it out
It's not enough
Not enough
Get high, get spent
How you gonna pay the rent?
It's not enough
Not enough
Go there, look at that
Fly around the world and then
It's not enough
It's not enough
Everything you have
Not enough
Everything you want
Not enough
Yeah, everything you've bought
Not enough
And everything you want
Not enough
When I was a boy
Laying in the grass
I would always dream
Of what I didn't have
And time meant nothing to me
And not a thing to us
I could never believe
In what I couldn't touch
Ohh-oh, ohh, ohh-oh, ohh
Now I sit and watch
The mellowy room
I'm an old man now
And the flowers are in bloom
And all the pretty young things
Pass by my window
And I'd gladly give up my soul
For another go
Ohh, love is all there is
(loss is all there is)
Ohh, love is all there is
Get born get ahead
Snatch it all, it's like I said
It's not enough
Lyrics submitted by kittiewonder
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