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.
They used to tell me boy you ain't goin' nowhere
With your cheap guitar and your big long hair
You gotta realize all your responsibilities
You gotta get out to work and face reality
You gotta get up in the morning take your heavy load
And you gotta keep goin' down the long black road
So I drifted for a while down the road to ruin
I couldn't find my way I didn't know what I was doin'
I saw a lot of people coming back the other way
So I kept on goin' when I heard them say
"You gotta get up in the morning take your heavy load
And you gotta keep goin' down the long black road"
I made a lot of money I was makin' quite a mess
But they all told me money wouldn't bring me happiness
"You gotta work like a man in a real man's life
You're gonna have to take all the trouble and strife"
You gotta get up in the morning take your heavy load
And you gotta keep goin' down the long black road
With your cheap guitar and your big long hair
You gotta realize all your responsibilities
You gotta get out to work and face reality
You gotta get up in the morning take your heavy load
And you gotta keep goin' down the long black road
So I drifted for a while down the road to ruin
I couldn't find my way I didn't know what I was doin'
I saw a lot of people coming back the other way
So I kept on goin' when I heard them say
"You gotta get up in the morning take your heavy load
And you gotta keep goin' down the long black road"
I made a lot of money I was makin' quite a mess
But they all told me money wouldn't bring me happiness
"You gotta work like a man in a real man's life
You're gonna have to take all the trouble and strife"
You gotta get up in the morning take your heavy load
And you gotta keep goin' down the long black road
Lyrics submitted by JohnnyLurg
Long Black Road Lyrics as written by Jeff Lynne
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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