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 find myself
I'm just awastin' my time away
No matter what I do
It always ends up the same
One minute moves
Into the next
My life was simple
But now it's complex
And it doesn't seem to mean anything at all
And everything I want to be
Is just another silly dream, you see
But I'll keep dreaming just the same
Sometimes it's hard to be me
When people stand in my way
I get so easily discouraged
Well, what can I say
They try to mess you up
They try to push you around
They'll do anything
To bring you down
I'm not gonna be
Stuck in mediocrity
When everybody's trying to bring me
Back down to reality
Oh, why can't they see
Just how much this means to me
Maybe one day I'll be special
Your dreams are special to you
But maybe others don't care
It brings you down
When you find them disregarded
And when you're out on your own
It's hard to make yourself stay
And finish up what it was
That you once started
I'm not gonna be
Taken down that easily
When everybody's trying to tell me
What I'm gonna have to be
Oh, why can't they see
Just how much this means to me
Maybe one day I'll be special
I'll be special
It means nothing
It means everything
It means something to me
What you tryin' to say
I'm not gonna play
In this little game
That you have created for me
You had your chance to do
What you needed to
And not it's time for me
To step right up and
Spin that wheel
This time's for real
It's not gonna work this time
'cause in the end it's going to be mine
There's no need for me to stay
'cause everything is gonna go
My way
My way, my way
My way
My way, my way, my way
I'm just awastin' my time away
No matter what I do
It always ends up the same
One minute moves
Into the next
My life was simple
But now it's complex
And it doesn't seem to mean anything at all
And everything I want to be
Is just another silly dream, you see
But I'll keep dreaming just the same
Sometimes it's hard to be me
When people stand in my way
I get so easily discouraged
Well, what can I say
They try to mess you up
They try to push you around
They'll do anything
To bring you down
I'm not gonna be
Stuck in mediocrity
When everybody's trying to bring me
Back down to reality
Oh, why can't they see
Just how much this means to me
Maybe one day I'll be special
Your dreams are special to you
But maybe others don't care
It brings you down
When you find them disregarded
And when you're out on your own
It's hard to make yourself stay
And finish up what it was
That you once started
I'm not gonna be
Taken down that easily
When everybody's trying to tell me
What I'm gonna have to be
Oh, why can't they see
Just how much this means to me
Maybe one day I'll be special
I'll be special
It means nothing
It means everything
It means something to me
What you tryin' to say
I'm not gonna play
In this little game
That you have created for me
You had your chance to do
What you needed to
And not it's time for me
To step right up and
Spin that wheel
This time's for real
It's not gonna work this time
'cause in the end it's going to be mine
There's no need for me to stay
'cause everything is gonna go
My way
My way, my way
My way
My way, my way, my way
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this song is so cool because i think everybody can relate to it. the meaning is obvious...but all in all its a great song.
i think there's a verse missing in the lyrics.
It's about how we keep dreaming even though our dreams may be silly to others.