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.
Do intangible waves offer me escape?
I wanna know what it's like on the edge of a knife.
'Cos yesterdays stories have no promises of glory.
I just wanna escape for a minute or two,
So what the fuck am I suppose to do?
Yesterday evening, at the Gangland right across from the (49)bus, another man was put on the ground.
They pulled the trigger, we walk past without a sound.
They fire at will, we kiss as they kill.
We say we do as we want then sit perfectly still.
I guess you could say that I'll never learn, but you won't teach me with third degree burns.
You say "I don't care anymore, this is nothing I ain't heard before"
We sing these songs like they're our own.
It's nothing new, oh yes we know.
They're just the tales from our front door.
When our sugar coated life's a bore.
(Seems like you can even fault a privileged life these days, whatever next?)
Then I was asked what did I learn?
I think I summed it up in these 4 words:
I hated every minute.
I'm cringing while I'm singing.
Maybe no-one will notice and I'll get through this.
Maybe they'll think it's mine that I'm literally inflamed with passion that I contorted into rhyme.
Butthen "THIS JUST IN: The kids are so complacent and they don't even know it yet so they're lashing out so aimlessly at things that aren't even athreat!"
You say "I don't care anymore, I've left my interest at the door"
We sing these songs like they're our own.
It's nothing new, oh yes we know.
They're just the tales from our front door.
When our sugar coated life's a bore.
I wanna know what it's like on the edge of a knife.
'Cos yesterdays stories have no promises of glory.
I just wanna escape for a minute or two,
So what the fuck am I suppose to do?
Yesterday evening, at the Gangland right across from the (49)bus, another man was put on the ground.
They pulled the trigger, we walk past without a sound.
They fire at will, we kiss as they kill.
We say we do as we want then sit perfectly still.
I guess you could say that I'll never learn, but you won't teach me with third degree burns.
You say "I don't care anymore, this is nothing I ain't heard before"
We sing these songs like they're our own.
It's nothing new, oh yes we know.
They're just the tales from our front door.
When our sugar coated life's a bore.
(Seems like you can even fault a privileged life these days, whatever next?)
Then I was asked what did I learn?
I think I summed it up in these 4 words:
I hated every minute.
I'm cringing while I'm singing.
Maybe no-one will notice and I'll get through this.
Maybe they'll think it's mine that I'm literally inflamed with passion that I contorted into rhyme.
Butthen "THIS JUST IN: The kids are so complacent and they don't even know it yet so they're lashing out so aimlessly at things that aren't even athreat!"
You say "I don't care anymore, I've left my interest at the door"
We sing these songs like they're our own.
It's nothing new, oh yes we know.
They're just the tales from our front door.
When our sugar coated life's a bore.
Lyrics submitted by rottenzuko
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