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.
Time keeps, time keeps drippin' away
Bettin' days, it's a dangerous game that we play
We all get tired of the stories that come with our names
We're all still tryin' to figure it out anyway, mh
Do you look outside the window
When the sun goes down?
Do you hide yourself in the shadows
Of a lonely town?
Do you still dream of tomorrow
Bein' so much more?
Did you lose yourself in the universe
Wanderer?
Wanderer, oh
Silhouettes in the headlights on the street
Extras in a movie that we'll never see
Oh, we're all so scared of the things that we might never be
Ooh, spend our lives with our eyes wide open, asleep, oh
Do you look outside the window
When the sun goes down?
Do you hide yourself in the shadows
Of a lonely town?
Do you still dream of tomorrow
Bein' so much more?
Did you lose yourself in the universe
Wanderer?
Wanderer, oh
Wanderer, oh
Bettin' days, it's a dangerous game that we play
We all get tired of the stories that come with our names
We're all still tryin' to figure it out anyway, mh
Do you look outside the window
When the sun goes down?
Do you hide yourself in the shadows
Of a lonely town?
Do you still dream of tomorrow
Bein' so much more?
Did you lose yourself in the universe
Wanderer?
Wanderer, oh
Silhouettes in the headlights on the street
Extras in a movie that we'll never see
Oh, we're all so scared of the things that we might never be
Ooh, spend our lives with our eyes wide open, asleep, oh
Do you look outside the window
When the sun goes down?
Do you hide yourself in the shadows
Of a lonely town?
Do you still dream of tomorrow
Bein' so much more?
Did you lose yourself in the universe
Wanderer?
Wanderer, oh
Wanderer, oh
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Powerful song. Love it, but i can't really explain it. and as steve says, it goes along with "about and hour ago" and "someone in the road". the "wanderer" or "vagabond" theme is most likely about someone who doesn't find a place where they belong and "home" isn't a tangible place. I guess that is what life is about. Wandering until you find where you should be, who you should be with, or what you should believe in.
I will start by stating that I am in no way religious nor affiliated with any church, synagogue, mosque, etc.. That being said, this song is clearly a metaphoric first person narrative style song from the perspective of that well known fallen angel Lucifer. It is an angry grounded Lucifer that is pissed at his dad for putting him in time out. Now that I have said that, listen to it again, the live version. It couldn't be more obvious. The only thing that is somewhat disturbing is the seemingly arbitrary violent call to arms in what some of you have described as that "i just can't put my finger on it" emotional orgasm that you experience when listening to this track. I agree, I love rocking this simple chord progression on my guitar and singing loudly. Not knowing what to believe anymore, what is real and what is not, and what is good and what is bad, I will continue to enjoy this catchy 4 chorder. Cheers