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.
Would you hold it against me if I say that, “I’ve been missing you lately?”
Do you remember when we sat outside my house
Watched stars cascade, turning into something else?
You said you would travel, I said you should
You said you would travel, I knew you would
It’s not the first time I felt this way
I will be better for this. I will
And from our time spent alone we’ll have stories to tell
I will be better for this, I will. I will
Go talk to your friends like I’m somebody else
Like I’m the man that you need when I’m the boy that you shelved
Go talk to your friends, I’m finally somebody else
Complacent on a shelf
And you held it against me when I said everything about how fucked up this really is
Home by 8, but you wouldn’t notice ‘cause no ones around anymore
You moved across the country, said goodbye to your friends and you skipped my street
Nothing but a dead end
I will be better for this. I will
And from our time spent alone we’ll have stories to tell
I will be better for this, I will. I will
Go talk to your friends like I’m somebody else
Like I’m the man that you need when I’m the boy that you shelved
Go talk to your friends, I’m finally somebody else
Complacent on a shelf
I guess it’s common sense for me to shake like this
I’ve seen weaker men learn how to deal with it
I guess it’s common sense for me to shake like this
I’ve seen weaker men learn how to deal with it
Fell asleep to faith on tv, it kept belief alive in me
(Best intentions? Worst decisions.)
You’re the faith healer of my dreams
You leave my life so recklessly
Put the fear of God in me, and hush me back to sleep
(Best intentions? Worst decisions.)
It never was a choice to leave it’s something I must do for me
It never was a choice to leave it’s something I must do for me
It never was a choice to leave it’s something I must do for me
Do you remember when we sat outside my house
Watched stars cascade, turning into something else?
You said you would travel, I said you should
You said you would travel, I knew you would
It’s not the first time I felt this way
I will be better for this. I will
And from our time spent alone we’ll have stories to tell
I will be better for this, I will. I will
Go talk to your friends like I’m somebody else
Like I’m the man that you need when I’m the boy that you shelved
Go talk to your friends, I’m finally somebody else
Complacent on a shelf
And you held it against me when I said everything about how fucked up this really is
Home by 8, but you wouldn’t notice ‘cause no ones around anymore
You moved across the country, said goodbye to your friends and you skipped my street
Nothing but a dead end
I will be better for this. I will
And from our time spent alone we’ll have stories to tell
I will be better for this, I will. I will
Go talk to your friends like I’m somebody else
Like I’m the man that you need when I’m the boy that you shelved
Go talk to your friends, I’m finally somebody else
Complacent on a shelf
I guess it’s common sense for me to shake like this
I’ve seen weaker men learn how to deal with it
I guess it’s common sense for me to shake like this
I’ve seen weaker men learn how to deal with it
Fell asleep to faith on tv, it kept belief alive in me
(Best intentions? Worst decisions.)
You’re the faith healer of my dreams
You leave my life so recklessly
Put the fear of God in me, and hush me back to sleep
(Best intentions? Worst decisions.)
It never was a choice to leave it’s something I must do for me
It never was a choice to leave it’s something I must do for me
It never was a choice to leave it’s something I must do for me
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