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.
Who was it set you off today?
Always someone wants to take a bow
So you leave it now where you left it off
And then I watch you carry it all
Sometimes we'll slip, fall, fade
We'll fuck it all up
Leaving this town we'll all go
Who was it set you up today?
Always someone wish to pull it off
So they'll pick it up where we let it fall
And then we'll watch them stumble alone
Sometimes we whine to fine-tune our own souls
Leaving this town it's too slow
In all ways in two days
Gotta breakaway now from this town
Gotta breakaway now from it all
Gotta breakaway now and soar high
Never gonna come down
Who was it let you down today?
Always someone who takes it over all
So we'll leave 'em out and break free from the fault
And then we'll watch them learn to crawl
In time they'll slip, fall, fade
They'll fuck it all up
We're leaving this town we'll let them go
In all ways for two days
Gotta breakaway now from this town
Gotta breakaway now from it all
Gotta breakaway now and soar high
Never gonna come down
Leave me alone, you want to drag off my cigarette
Find your own, life, it never made promises
In my face again, you know you were never meant
No time for fucking arrogance
Gotta breakaway now from this town
Always someone wants to take a bow
So you leave it now where you left it off
And then I watch you carry it all
Sometimes we'll slip, fall, fade
We'll fuck it all up
Leaving this town we'll all go
Who was it set you up today?
Always someone wish to pull it off
So they'll pick it up where we let it fall
And then we'll watch them stumble alone
Sometimes we whine to fine-tune our own souls
Leaving this town it's too slow
In all ways in two days
Gotta breakaway now from this town
Gotta breakaway now from it all
Gotta breakaway now and soar high
Never gonna come down
Who was it let you down today?
Always someone who takes it over all
So we'll leave 'em out and break free from the fault
And then we'll watch them learn to crawl
In time they'll slip, fall, fade
They'll fuck it all up
We're leaving this town we'll let them go
In all ways for two days
Gotta breakaway now from this town
Gotta breakaway now from it all
Gotta breakaway now and soar high
Never gonna come down
Leave me alone, you want to drag off my cigarette
Find your own, life, it never made promises
In my face again, you know you were never meant
No time for fucking arrogance
Gotta breakaway now from this town
Lyrics submitted by ShiverForMe
Breakaway Lyrics as written by David Krusen Bardi David Martin
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
No comments on this song?
I have a feeling that this song relates to the band's struggles to leave their home town, the town where they believed they couldn't explode onto the scene.
Great catchy song.