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.
In my left hand there is the familiar
In my right hand there's the great unknown
I can see the madly different grass there
But I'm drawn to wilder nights at home
Don't listen to your friends
See the despair behind their eyes
Don't listen to your friends
They only care once in a while
I can feel the draw
I can feel it pulling me back
It's pulling me back
It's pulling me
I can feel the draw
I can feel it pulling me back
It's pulling me back
It's pulling me
Are you drifting way beyond what's normal?
'Cause 'round your mind rings the words that they would say
When you go home everything looks different
And you're scared of being left behind
Just listen to your friends
Trust that they're fair, look in their eyes
Just listen to your friends
They only care and hope you're alright
I can feel the draw
I can feel it pulling me back
It's pulling me back
It's pulling me
I can feel the draw
I can feel it pulling me back
It's pulling me back
It's pulling me
I can feel the draw
I can feel it pulling me back
It's pulling me back
It's pulling me
I can feel the draw
I can feel it pulling me back
It's pulling me back
It's pulling me
I can feel the draw
I can feel it pulling me back
It's pulling me back
It's pulling me
I can feel the draw
I can feel it pulling me back
It's pulling me back
It's pulling me
I can feel the draw
I can feel it pulling me back
It's pulling me back
It's pulling me
I can feel the draw (draw)
The draw (draw)
The draw (draw)
The draw (draw)
In my right hand there's the great unknown
I can see the madly different grass there
But I'm drawn to wilder nights at home
Don't listen to your friends
See the despair behind their eyes
Don't listen to your friends
They only care once in a while
I can feel the draw
I can feel it pulling me back
It's pulling me back
It's pulling me
I can feel the draw
I can feel it pulling me back
It's pulling me back
It's pulling me
Are you drifting way beyond what's normal?
'Cause 'round your mind rings the words that they would say
When you go home everything looks different
And you're scared of being left behind
Just listen to your friends
Trust that they're fair, look in their eyes
Just listen to your friends
They only care and hope you're alright
I can feel the draw
I can feel it pulling me back
It's pulling me back
It's pulling me
I can feel the draw
I can feel it pulling me back
It's pulling me back
It's pulling me
I can feel the draw
I can feel it pulling me back
It's pulling me back
It's pulling me
I can feel the draw
I can feel it pulling me back
It's pulling me back
It's pulling me
I can feel the draw
I can feel it pulling me back
It's pulling me back
It's pulling me
I can feel the draw
I can feel it pulling me back
It's pulling me back
It's pulling me
I can feel the draw
I can feel it pulling me back
It's pulling me back
It's pulling me
I can feel the draw (draw)
The draw (draw)
The draw (draw)
The draw (draw)
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As someone who's struggled with self harm this song was overwhelmingly about that for me. But then I listened deeper and though it could be about any form of addiction or mental health issue. Depression, self harm, anxiety to name a few. And maybe it was written like that specifically. So that anyone who listens to it and struggles with a mental health issue or addiction can see it relating to them, and so they feel as if they aren't alone.
@Jess1234 these were my thoughts exactly. i always thought it was about some sort of addiction, but i specifically related to the song through my past experiences with self-harm and depression.