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.
Let me run with you tonight
I'll take you on a moonlight ride
There's someone I used to see
But she don't give a damn for me
But let me get to the point
Let's roll another joint
And turn the radio loud
I'm too alone to be proud
And you don't know how it feels
You don't know how it feels
To be me
People come, people go
Some grow young, some grow cold
I woke up in between
A memory and a dream
So let's get to the point
Let's roll another joint
And let's head on down the road
There's somewhere I gotta go
And you don't know how it feels
You don't know how it feels
To be me
My old man was born to rock
He's still tryna beat the clock
Think of me what you will
I've got a little space to fill
So let's get to the point
Let's roll another joint
And let's head on down the road
There's somewhere I gotta go
And you don't know how it feels
You don't know how it feels
No, you don't know how it feels
To be me
You don't know how it feels
You don't know how it feels
No, you don't know how it feels
To be me
I'll take you on a moonlight ride
There's someone I used to see
But she don't give a damn for me
But let me get to the point
Let's roll another joint
And turn the radio loud
I'm too alone to be proud
And you don't know how it feels
You don't know how it feels
To be me
People come, people go
Some grow young, some grow cold
I woke up in between
A memory and a dream
So let's get to the point
Let's roll another joint
And let's head on down the road
There's somewhere I gotta go
And you don't know how it feels
You don't know how it feels
To be me
My old man was born to rock
He's still tryna beat the clock
Think of me what you will
I've got a little space to fill
So let's get to the point
Let's roll another joint
And let's head on down the road
There's somewhere I gotta go
And you don't know how it feels
You don't know how it feels
No, you don't know how it feels
To be me
You don't know how it feels
You don't know how it feels
No, you don't know how it feels
To be me
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I think some of you guys are way off base. This song isn't 'about smoking weed'. It definitely mentions that, but that's not what it's 'about'. I've never smoked in my life, but I have no problem relating to this song.
The guy singing this has had a bad time and he wants to move on. The 'roll another joint' line is an example of how he wants to disconnect from whatever is stressing him out, but what he wants to do (disconnect) is way more important than how he wants to do it (smoke). You could say 'pour another pint' just as easily (though the rhyme would suffer).
This song is about wanting to turn off the static in your life for a little bit and get some peace. The "you don't know how it feels" part is him feeling a little sorry for himself, I think. That's cool -- we all feel that way sometimes: that nobody understands us or what we're going through.
The rest of the lyrics deal with a lack of control over life in general: "people come, people go / some grown young and some grow cold."
And some of them, I think, are just there so that he has something to sing: "My old man was born to rock / he's still trying to beat the clock." -- I think it's just a bit of filler there, but it's entertaining filler and it's fun to sing, so what the hell.
@jackdiamonds I think the part about his old man means that his dad has spent his life working instead of doing what he was meant to do. His dad was born to rock, but he's still trying to beat the clock (which I believe is an idiom referring to when factory workers had to line up and stick a card into a machine that would punch when they arrive and when they leave-clocking in and clocking-out of work). It's consistent with your observation that the song is about lack of control and wanting to escape to somewhere. I think he has no idea where to go and maybe there is nowhere and to run away/ escape/leave is all there is.