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.
I fell in love with a hooker
She laughed in my face
So seriously I took her
I was a disgrace
I was out of line; I was out of place
Out of time to save face
See the open mouth of my suitcase
Sayin' leave this place
Leave without a trace
Leave without a trace
Leave without a trace
I tried to get a good job
With honest pay
I might as well join the mob
The benefits are okay
Standing in the sun with a popsicle
Everything is possible
With a lot of luck and a pretty face
And some time to waste
Leave without a trace
Leave without a trace
Leave without a trace
I tried to dance at a funeral
New Orleans style
I joined the Grave Dancer's Union
I had to file
Trying to do the right thing, play it straight
The right thing changes from state to state
Don't forget to take your mace
If you're out walking late
I liked to see your face
You left without a trace
You leave without a trace
She laughed in my face
So seriously I took her
I was a disgrace
I was out of line; I was out of place
Out of time to save face
See the open mouth of my suitcase
Sayin' leave this place
Leave without a trace
Leave without a trace
Leave without a trace
I tried to get a good job
With honest pay
I might as well join the mob
The benefits are okay
Standing in the sun with a popsicle
Everything is possible
With a lot of luck and a pretty face
And some time to waste
Leave without a trace
Leave without a trace
Leave without a trace
I tried to dance at a funeral
New Orleans style
I joined the Grave Dancer's Union
I had to file
Trying to do the right thing, play it straight
The right thing changes from state to state
Don't forget to take your mace
If you're out walking late
I liked to see your face
You left without a trace
You leave without a trace
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I dont know if there's a deeper meaning to this song or not, but I've always looked at it in a similar way, I guess, to tzovas - the first and last verse are 1 person, the middle verse is another. I always just looked at it pretty much at face value - it's about a hooker. Verse 1 - Guy picks up a hooker, likes her, whatever. Verse 2 - Girl trying to find a job, ends up as a hooker ("standing in the sun w/ a popsicle anything is possible" - little seductive maybe - "with a lot of luck and a pretty face.") Verse 3 - guy's concerned about hooker, take your mace if you're out working late in case some bad stuff starts to go down. When the hooker leaves, she's gone w/out a trace.
Like I said, I always took it at face value. I dont know if there's any deeper meaning to this or not.