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.
Cigarette smoke dances back in the window,
And I can see the haze on its own light
I'm conjuring ghosts on a forty hour ride home,
And they keep asking me what I'm doing with my life.
While my cousins go to bed with their wives.
I'm feeling like I've fallen behind.
Well, the highway won
I'm listening to traffic reports one on one
Coming quietly undone.
I was born to run
Away from anything good.
An escape artist's son
Sun-drenched pavement in my blood
The first thing that I do when I walk in is find a way out for when shit gets bad and
I've been looking for
Tears in the screen door (tears in the screen door).
I've been waiting for
Another disaster (another disaster).
Well I'm still afraid
Like a kid in the sixties
Staring at the sky
Waiting for the bomb to fall.
And it's all a lie
What they say about stability.
It scares me sometimes
The emptiness I see in my eyes.
And all the kids names I've ever liked recited tragedy.
Well, I don't want my children growing up to be anything like me.
I've been looking for
Tears in the screen door (tears in the screen door).
I've been waiting for
Another disaster (another disaster).
And I was kinda hoping you'd say.
I was kinda hoping you'd stay.
I keep a flashlight
And a small knife
In the corner of my bed stand.
I keep a flashlight
And the train times
But you wouldn't understand.
How could you understand?
Jesus Christ. I'm 26.
All the people I've graduated with,
All have kids,
All have wives,
All have people who care if they come home at night.
Well, Jesus Christ, did I fuck up?
I've been looking for
Tears in the screen door (tears in the screen door).
I've been waiting for
Another disaster (another disaster).
And I was kinda hoping you'd say.
I was kinda hoping you'd stay.
I was kinda hoping you'd stay.
And I can see the haze on its own light
I'm conjuring ghosts on a forty hour ride home,
And they keep asking me what I'm doing with my life.
While my cousins go to bed with their wives.
I'm feeling like I've fallen behind.
Well, the highway won
I'm listening to traffic reports one on one
Coming quietly undone.
I was born to run
Away from anything good.
An escape artist's son
Sun-drenched pavement in my blood
The first thing that I do when I walk in is find a way out for when shit gets bad and
I've been looking for
Tears in the screen door (tears in the screen door).
I've been waiting for
Another disaster (another disaster).
Well I'm still afraid
Like a kid in the sixties
Staring at the sky
Waiting for the bomb to fall.
And it's all a lie
What they say about stability.
It scares me sometimes
The emptiness I see in my eyes.
And all the kids names I've ever liked recited tragedy.
Well, I don't want my children growing up to be anything like me.
I've been looking for
Tears in the screen door (tears in the screen door).
I've been waiting for
Another disaster (another disaster).
And I was kinda hoping you'd say.
I was kinda hoping you'd stay.
I keep a flashlight
And a small knife
In the corner of my bed stand.
I keep a flashlight
And the train times
But you wouldn't understand.
How could you understand?
Jesus Christ. I'm 26.
All the people I've graduated with,
All have kids,
All have wives,
All have people who care if they come home at night.
Well, Jesus Christ, did I fuck up?
I've been looking for
Tears in the screen door (tears in the screen door).
I've been waiting for
Another disaster (another disaster).
And I was kinda hoping you'd say.
I was kinda hoping you'd stay.
I was kinda hoping you'd stay.
Lyrics submitted by teganomous, edited by xxmodernlove
Passing Through a Screen Door Lyrics as written by Joshua Martin Daniel Campbell
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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But I was kinda hoping you'd stay...