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.
Attaboy
Attaboy
Sometimes I have problems relating to Batman
A billionaire in a bondage suit stomping the destitute with Freudian jackboots
Then I realize he’s an anarchist radical in disguise
He probably listens to In My Eyes
Of course it feels better when you realize a punk can fly
He can fly
Why do you do just what they told you?
Have them both at once, have them both at once
Why don’t you feel bad?
Why don’t you feel had?
You split the baby just to please the crutch of desperate mothers out for blood
Attaboy
Attaboy
Sometimes I gut and skin those who cannot reconcile my stance
Muddled spiritual phrase
Pseudo-political rage
Beer gut on a sober man
Then I press my calloused flesh to someone who’s out of my league
And knowingly laugh knowing life is transcending heat-death and its aftermath
Attaboy
Attaboy
Why do you do just what they told you?
Have them both at once, have them both at once
Why don’t you feel bad?
Why don’t you feel had?
You split the baby just to please the crutch of desperate mothers out for blood
Why do you do just what they told you?
I think it’s a crying shame that you’re not at this show
Because I’m trying to tap into something you reluctantly know
Don’t jam it in private so all your co-workers won’t know
Nobody’s watching over you
You can nod your head precious
We can drown out the daytime soap you live
And the ghosts you’ve been mourning
I know we keep plugging away at the same octave chords
We only know octave chords
A career built on octave chords
Butchered to jilted time
But it’s the frightfully mundane that keeps us alive
So keep on keeping on
Keep on keeping on
Keep on keeping on
Keep on keeping on
Keep on keeping on
Keep on keeping on
Keep on keeping on
Keep on keeping on
Attaboy
Sometimes I have problems relating to Batman
A billionaire in a bondage suit stomping the destitute with Freudian jackboots
Then I realize he’s an anarchist radical in disguise
He probably listens to In My Eyes
Of course it feels better when you realize a punk can fly
He can fly
Why do you do just what they told you?
Have them both at once, have them both at once
Why don’t you feel bad?
Why don’t you feel had?
You split the baby just to please the crutch of desperate mothers out for blood
Attaboy
Attaboy
Sometimes I gut and skin those who cannot reconcile my stance
Muddled spiritual phrase
Pseudo-political rage
Beer gut on a sober man
Then I press my calloused flesh to someone who’s out of my league
And knowingly laugh knowing life is transcending heat-death and its aftermath
Attaboy
Attaboy
Why do you do just what they told you?
Have them both at once, have them both at once
Why don’t you feel bad?
Why don’t you feel had?
You split the baby just to please the crutch of desperate mothers out for blood
Why do you do just what they told you?
I think it’s a crying shame that you’re not at this show
Because I’m trying to tap into something you reluctantly know
Don’t jam it in private so all your co-workers won’t know
Nobody’s watching over you
You can nod your head precious
We can drown out the daytime soap you live
And the ghosts you’ve been mourning
I know we keep plugging away at the same octave chords
We only know octave chords
A career built on octave chords
Butchered to jilted time
But it’s the frightfully mundane that keeps us alive
So keep on keeping on
Keep on keeping on
Keep on keeping on
Keep on keeping on
Keep on keeping on
Keep on keeping on
Keep on keeping on
Keep on keeping on
Lyrics submitted by SoBrokenHearted
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Great version of a great song,
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“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.