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.
A man on the corner with glassy look
Telling a story of his lifetime
A thousand times told, desperate verse
But never listened
Another on by the bar talking to a barmaid
Has spent his whole life there
A naively trusting man never faced life
Or has just found Eldorado
Life is nothing but a gift
[Chorus]
Poor human fates
Pure human fakes
No human rights
The underrated
The third one by the table never said a word
Gazing into the distance
The observer, melancholic man
Just drinking heavily
Not very old but still a veteran
Has lost his thread of life
In god-forsaken place they are the family
And they are at home
Life is nothing but a gift
[Chorus]
Use of education is not complete solution
Now it is time to look in the mirror
[Chorus]
Telling a story of his lifetime
A thousand times told, desperate verse
But never listened
Another on by the bar talking to a barmaid
Has spent his whole life there
A naively trusting man never faced life
Or has just found Eldorado
Life is nothing but a gift
[Chorus]
Poor human fates
Pure human fakes
No human rights
The underrated
The third one by the table never said a word
Gazing into the distance
The observer, melancholic man
Just drinking heavily
Not very old but still a veteran
Has lost his thread of life
In god-forsaken place they are the family
And they are at home
Life is nothing but a gift
[Chorus]
Use of education is not complete solution
Now it is time to look in the mirror
[Chorus]
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about different drunks at the same bar im guessing. Basically he's saying that life is nothing but a gift and these people are wasting it.