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 more, more or less then we're done
Can't be sure if we had fun
Sweet sixteen been and gone
Eighteen next year then we're done
Girls like me if they're younger
But girls my age want guys older
Guess I'm just stuck in the middle
Between easies and girls unattainable
Yeah they say, these days are the best we got
What a tragic thought
And I try, and I try, not to waste this time
But it just flies by, the more I try
Slow down, don't speak, say something
Line up, don't cheat, stop staring
Sit down, shut up, start learning
Time's up, get out start working
Yeah they say, these days are the best we got
What a tragic thought
And I try, and I try, not to waste this time
But it just flies by, the more I try
Yeah they say, these days are the best we got
What a tragic thought
And I try, and I try, not to waste
But it just flies by, the more I try
Can't be sure if we had fun
Sweet sixteen been and gone
Eighteen next year then we're done
Girls like me if they're younger
But girls my age want guys older
Guess I'm just stuck in the middle
Between easies and girls unattainable
Yeah they say, these days are the best we got
What a tragic thought
And I try, and I try, not to waste this time
But it just flies by, the more I try
Slow down, don't speak, say something
Line up, don't cheat, stop staring
Sit down, shut up, start learning
Time's up, get out start working
Yeah they say, these days are the best we got
What a tragic thought
And I try, and I try, not to waste this time
But it just flies by, the more I try
Yeah they say, these days are the best we got
What a tragic thought
And I try, and I try, not to waste
But it just flies by, the more I try
Lyrics submitted by gusjns
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This song is about being 17. It could have been drawn from the writers personal experience or just the general tribulations of being a teenager. "Girls like me if they're younger But girls my age want guys older Guess I'm just stuck in the middle Between easies and girls unattainable " This is saying how hard it is to get girls his own age because all they want are older guys. Girls younger than him like him but he doesn't really want to go out with a young, vulnerable girl. "Yeah they say, these days are the best we got What a tragic thought And I try, and I try, not to waste this time But it just flies by, the more I try " This is saying how all adults say that being a teenager is the best time of your life and he should try to hold on to it. And he does try, but time keeps moving on and going faster and he doesn't want to waste this "precious" time in his life but he feels like he can't do anything about it. "Slow down, don't speak, say something Line up, don't cheat, stop staring Sit down, shut up, start learning Time's up, get out start working " This is just reiterating all the hypocritical things adults say to teenagers to control them. The last line is saying sorry your times up, you're done being young you have to get up and move out and get a job.