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.
Some nights I stay up cashing in my bad luck
Some nights I call it a draw
Some nights I wish that my lips could build a castle
Some nights I wish they'd just fall off
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh, Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for oh
Whoa oh oh (What do I stand for?)
Whoa oh oh (What do I stand for?)
Most nights I don't know anymore
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh (Most some nights I)
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh (Most some nights I)
This is it, boys, this is war, what are we waiting for?
Why don't we break the rules already? (Most some nights I)
I was never one to believe the hype
Save that for the black and white
I try twice as hard and I'm half as liked,
But here they come again to jack my style (Most some nights I)
So if by the time the bar closes
And you feel like falling down
I'll carry you home
Tonight
We are young
Gonna set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
Tonight
We are young
Gonna set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
Come on
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh, (Most some nights I)
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh (Most some nights I)
Tonight
We are young
Gonna set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
Tonight
We are young
Gonna set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
So if by the time the bar closes
And you feel like falling down
I'll carry you home
Tonight
Some nights I call it a draw
Some nights I wish that my lips could build a castle
Some nights I wish they'd just fall off
But I still wake up, I still see your ghost
Oh, Lord, I'm still not sure what I stand for oh
Whoa oh oh (What do I stand for?)
Whoa oh oh (What do I stand for?)
Most nights I don't know anymore
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh (Most some nights I)
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh (Most some nights I)
This is it, boys, this is war, what are we waiting for?
Why don't we break the rules already? (Most some nights I)
I was never one to believe the hype
Save that for the black and white
I try twice as hard and I'm half as liked,
But here they come again to jack my style (Most some nights I)
So if by the time the bar closes
And you feel like falling down
I'll carry you home
Tonight
We are young
Gonna set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
Tonight
We are young
Gonna set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
Come on
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh, (Most some nights I)
Oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, whoa, oh, oh (Most some nights I)
Tonight
We are young
Gonna set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
Tonight
We are young
Gonna set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
So if by the time the bar closes
And you feel like falling down
I'll carry you home
Tonight
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Some Nights/We Are Young Lyrics as written by Andrew Dost Jeff Bhasker
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Hipgnosis Songs Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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