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.
Every night I dream the same dream
Of getting older and older all the time
I ask you now what does this mean
Are all these problems just in my mind?
Things are easy when you're a child
But now these pressures have dropped on my head
The lengths I've gone are just long miles
Would they be shorter if I were dead?
Every time I look in my past
I always wish I was there
I wish my youth would forever last
Why are all these times so unfair?
Look at my friends and see what they've done
Ask my self why they've had to change
I liked them better when they were young
Now all these times are rearranged
I look down, and stand there, and cry
But nothing ever will be the same
The sun is rising; now I ask why
The clouds have fallen; here comes the rain
Every time I look in my past
I always wish I was there
I wish my youth would forever last
Why are all these times so unfair?
Every night I dream the same dream
Of getting older and older all the time
I ask you now what does this mean
Are all these problems just in my mind?
Things are easy when you're a child
But now these pressures have dropped on my head
The lengths I've gone are just long miles
Would they be shorter if I were dead?
Every time I look in my past
I always wish I was there
I wish my youth would forever last
Why are all these times so unfair?
Of getting older and older all the time
I ask you now what does this mean
Are all these problems just in my mind?
Things are easy when you're a child
But now these pressures have dropped on my head
The lengths I've gone are just long miles
Would they be shorter if I were dead?
Every time I look in my past
I always wish I was there
I wish my youth would forever last
Why are all these times so unfair?
Look at my friends and see what they've done
Ask my self why they've had to change
I liked them better when they were young
Now all these times are rearranged
I look down, and stand there, and cry
But nothing ever will be the same
The sun is rising; now I ask why
The clouds have fallen; here comes the rain
Every time I look in my past
I always wish I was there
I wish my youth would forever last
Why are all these times so unfair?
Every night I dream the same dream
Of getting older and older all the time
I ask you now what does this mean
Are all these problems just in my mind?
Things are easy when you're a child
But now these pressures have dropped on my head
The lengths I've gone are just long miles
Would they be shorter if I were dead?
Every time I look in my past
I always wish I was there
I wish my youth would forever last
Why are all these times so unfair?
Lyrics submitted by youth_underground
16 Lyrics as written by Frank E. Billie Joe Armstrong
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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when we're young we wish we were older. but when we are older we wish for our youth again. life isn't fair.
Yeah thats so true, once I turned 16 I stopped wanting to get older...whats the point?
this is my favorite song by green day. I think it's because it's the song that i can relate to the most. The lyrics describe all my feelings about the sh*t that has happened to me the past few years. its just a great song.
i can relate to most green day songs thats why they are the shit band.
I agree with all you guys I can relate to it to when im 16 now i spent ages wishing i'd get here and now it sucks. 'look at my friends and see what they've done ask myself why they've had to change' thats my favourite line its good cause its true.
Great Lyrics
Yeah I think a lot of it has to do with how our friends (who once were in the same situation) are out partying and what not and we're tryin to get thier but sometimes it seems we're wasting our time
yeah. i love this song, i just think the same that you guys do about it. its really good. being a teenager sucks. but i think if you can get through teenage years then you can get through practically anything.
X peace X
To me, this song just goes hand in hand with Green Day's song "I Was There." That one is an optimistic, hopeful look at the future, and this one is bitter and pessimistic. Most people feel both of these feelings when they're growing up, and both songs perfectly describe the feelings.
Billie Joe and John had really opposite views on their past
BJ: Every time I look in my past, I always wish I was there John: I look into the past, and I want to make it last, I was there