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.
I got it in the mail one morning
There was no return address
Just my name in gold leaf on the front
There was no time or location
There was really no info at all
No date no place no time no RSVP
But it said:
You are invited by anyone to do anything
You are invited for all time
I didn’t think much about it
It seemed like a really dumb joke
But later that week it was Friday—once again
So I took it down to a disco
That wouldn’t have me in am million years
I flashed it once and I was inside with a drink
I really didn’t stay too long there
‘Cause no one was having much fun
I made my way to a party all the way across town
It was thrown by the friend of an ex-thing
I wasn’t sure if I should go
But when I got in the place there were smiles all up and down
I grabbed my ex in the kitchen
I told her I was sorry I came
But she looked at me with a glazed smile and said:
You are invited by anyone to do anything
You are invited for all time
You are so needed by everyone to do everything
You are invited for all time
I headed home kinda early
The party wasn’t all that great
I saw my neighbor out crying on his front porch
I stopped to see what his deal was
I didn't catch much through the sobs
Something about a party and he didn’t go
I thought about it for a second
With the invite in my hands.
I threw it down at his feet and I said:
You are invited by anyone to do anything
You are invited for all time.
You are so needed if you really want to go
You are invited for all time
For all time
For all time
For all time
There was no return address
Just my name in gold leaf on the front
There was no time or location
There was really no info at all
No date no place no time no RSVP
But it said:
You are invited by anyone to do anything
You are invited for all time
I didn’t think much about it
It seemed like a really dumb joke
But later that week it was Friday—once again
So I took it down to a disco
That wouldn’t have me in am million years
I flashed it once and I was inside with a drink
I really didn’t stay too long there
‘Cause no one was having much fun
I made my way to a party all the way across town
It was thrown by the friend of an ex-thing
I wasn’t sure if I should go
But when I got in the place there were smiles all up and down
I grabbed my ex in the kitchen
I told her I was sorry I came
But she looked at me with a glazed smile and said:
You are invited by anyone to do anything
You are invited for all time
You are so needed by everyone to do everything
You are invited for all time
I headed home kinda early
The party wasn’t all that great
I saw my neighbor out crying on his front porch
I stopped to see what his deal was
I didn't catch much through the sobs
Something about a party and he didn’t go
I thought about it for a second
With the invite in my hands.
I threw it down at his feet and I said:
You are invited by anyone to do anything
You are invited for all time.
You are so needed if you really want to go
You are invited for all time
For all time
For all time
For all time
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the drum machine and syth sound build-up is crazy as hell. i love when they rock out at the climax, when the chorus hits. such an amazing song!