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.
You live your whole life staring at a wall, your mind goes blank sooner now you will fall.
You never learned the things you say to know now, but how?
There seems to be a difference, two different types of kids.
The ones who go out and the ones that are taught to live.
One groups taught how and the other group is taught why.
There's no need to tell you what's in my mind, but in the game of life I'm doing fine.
No reason to tell you which way to be.
Cause the streets have opened my eyes to see.
Look what’s happening now.
What are the reasons why and how?
And don't you think it sounds stupid when someone’s treated
different cause they're not the same as me or you?
You never learned the things you say to know now, but how?
There seems to be a difference, two different types of kids.
The ones who go out and the ones that are taught to live.
One groups taught how and the other group is taught why.
There's no need to tell you what's in my mind, but in the game of life I'm doing fine.
No reason to tell you which way to be.
Cause the streets have opened my eyes to see.
Look what’s happening now.
What are the reasons why and how?
And don't you think it sounds stupid when someone’s treated
different cause they're not the same as me or you?
Lyrics submitted by chickndood
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There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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Really the song is pretty straight forward, meaning it is about two types of people. The ones who go out and ones that are taught why. The ones who go out are probably the poor kids, ones who are taught how. How to make it in the real world, how to make it on their own. As the others who are taught why, they are probably rich. because they are taught things, they get prepared for the "real" world by books and words.
Also they're telling that there's no reason to tell you how to live or why to live. That you should just go and do what you want, doesn't matter who or what you are. Just fucking live. "Cause the streets have opened my eyes to see." - that meaning being on the streets opened his eyes to see that you can't be taught something to see out it really is. That being on the streets teaches you all what you need to know, not something you can get from books. "What are the reasons why and how?" - no one really knows why they're taught why and how, they just are. And who ever wrote this [iunno if it was Matt or someone else] questioned why they are taught why and how.
"And don't you think it sounds stupid when someone’s treated different cause they're not the same as me or you? " That line really caught my eye, because its undeniable true. Because mostly people who are "different" like poor, rich, of different race or religion are treated like shit because they are not like "them". Its really god damn stupid.
[Again this is my opinion so what ever.]