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.
No one give a shit about the way I walk
I don't mix my words it's just the way I talk
I got a pistol in my pocket and one black eye
I say forget these motherfuckers, let's go get high
Ooh, maybe I should do right
But I feel like doin' wrong
When I'm gone
I got a pretty little woman gonna make her my wife
Gonna start myself a family, make a brand new life
Ooh and maybe they'll realize that I'm able and I'm strong
When I'm gone
Maybe they'll forgive me
Beg, boy, just come on home
When I'm gone
I got a baby on the way and I can't provide
You can't live on love, you can't live on pride
I come to realize, well it's harder than I thought
When I'm gone
I could feel it closing in on me
I got to be all I can be
In this life there ain't no guarantee
You don't get no shit for free
Well you get it on your own and you bring it home
When I'm gone
So I'll go and join the army, gonna walk that line
A desperate decision for a desperate time
Ooh and maybe they'll realize that I was worth my salt
When I'm gone
Darling, I know you'll miss me
We'll just have to stay strong
When I'm gone
When I'm gone
When I'm gone
When I'm gone
I don't mix my words it's just the way I talk
I got a pistol in my pocket and one black eye
I say forget these motherfuckers, let's go get high
Ooh, maybe I should do right
But I feel like doin' wrong
When I'm gone
I got a pretty little woman gonna make her my wife
Gonna start myself a family, make a brand new life
Ooh and maybe they'll realize that I'm able and I'm strong
When I'm gone
Maybe they'll forgive me
Beg, boy, just come on home
When I'm gone
I got a baby on the way and I can't provide
You can't live on love, you can't live on pride
I come to realize, well it's harder than I thought
When I'm gone
I could feel it closing in on me
I got to be all I can be
In this life there ain't no guarantee
You don't get no shit for free
Well you get it on your own and you bring it home
When I'm gone
So I'll go and join the army, gonna walk that line
A desperate decision for a desperate time
Ooh and maybe they'll realize that I was worth my salt
When I'm gone
Darling, I know you'll miss me
We'll just have to stay strong
When I'm gone
When I'm gone
When I'm gone
When I'm gone
Lyrics submitted by YourLoversWereLiars
When I'm Gone Lyrics as written by Marc Smith Joseph Mchugh
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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