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.
Doted on like seeds planted in rows
The untied shoelaces of your life
Nurtured all year, then pressed in a book
Or displayed in bad taste at the table
Problems arise and you fan the fire
While there's a wild pack of dogs loose in your house tonight
Cut you from bad cloth or soiled like socks
Add it up and basically people never change
They just talk and make plans in the dark
Or make haste with ideas that can't help
But creep good people out
As you talk to me too much, you're assuming
We don't always want what's right
Did I strike the right set of chords? You're annoyed
The goal is to ignite you, then move on
You feel ill at ease, you got no squeeze
And the wise cracks won't make you more stable
You've learned you lines to scale and to time
Why must I remind you now I'm only less able
Cut from bad cloth or soiled like socks
We're ordinary people, we can't help but to change
As we walk and make plans in the dark
Or make haste with the boy who can't help
But creep good people out
As you talk to me too much, you're assuming
We don't always want what's right
Two fallen saplings in an open field
Snow padding gently on an empty bench
An old woman's jewelry lying unadorned
Coal nesting robins allied for the first time
I know when you hear these sappy lines
You'll roll your eyes and say, "nice try"
The untied shoelaces of your life
Nurtured all year, then pressed in a book
Or displayed in bad taste at the table
Problems arise and you fan the fire
While there's a wild pack of dogs loose in your house tonight
Cut you from bad cloth or soiled like socks
Add it up and basically people never change
They just talk and make plans in the dark
Or make haste with ideas that can't help
But creep good people out
As you talk to me too much, you're assuming
We don't always want what's right
Did I strike the right set of chords? You're annoyed
The goal is to ignite you, then move on
You feel ill at ease, you got no squeeze
And the wise cracks won't make you more stable
You've learned you lines to scale and to time
Why must I remind you now I'm only less able
Cut from bad cloth or soiled like socks
We're ordinary people, we can't help but to change
As we walk and make plans in the dark
Or make haste with the boy who can't help
But creep good people out
As you talk to me too much, you're assuming
We don't always want what's right
Two fallen saplings in an open field
Snow padding gently on an empty bench
An old woman's jewelry lying unadorned
Coal nesting robins allied for the first time
I know when you hear these sappy lines
You'll roll your eyes and say, "nice try"
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"add it up and basically people never change" "we're ordinary people we can't help but to change" so what is he saying here?