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 always knew what I wanted to be
I knew for sure, I knew for sure
Always knew it was them or me
I wanted more, more and more
It's alright, it's okay
None of them people gonna take it away
'Cause they don't know like I know
And I can't stop 'cause it drives them crazy
It drives them crazy
'Cause I won't be cool
It's too late baby
It's the same old desire
Nothing has changed, nothing's the same
Burning like fire
Don't you ever take my name in vain, oh yeah
Always moving, somewhere else to be
Moving on, moving on
Scream at you and you scream at me
Right or wrong, right or wrong
It's alright, it's okay
No one's ever gonna take us away
'Cause they don't know, like I know
I gotta keep rockin' 'cause it makes me crazy
It makes me crazy
Who needs to be cool?
Life's amazing
It's the same old desire
Crazy train, crazy train
Burning like fire
Don't you ever take my name in vain
Same old desire
Nothing has changed, nothing's the same
Burning like fire
Don't you ever take my name in vain, oh yeah
It's the same old desire
Nothing has changed, nothing's the same
Burning like fire
Don't you ever take my name in vain
Same old desire
Crazy train, crazy train
Burning like fire
Don't you ever take my name in vain
I knew for sure, I knew for sure
Always knew it was them or me
I wanted more, more and more
It's alright, it's okay
None of them people gonna take it away
'Cause they don't know like I know
And I can't stop 'cause it drives them crazy
It drives them crazy
'Cause I won't be cool
It's too late baby
It's the same old desire
Nothing has changed, nothing's the same
Burning like fire
Don't you ever take my name in vain, oh yeah
Always moving, somewhere else to be
Moving on, moving on
Scream at you and you scream at me
Right or wrong, right or wrong
It's alright, it's okay
No one's ever gonna take us away
'Cause they don't know, like I know
I gotta keep rockin' 'cause it makes me crazy
It makes me crazy
Who needs to be cool?
Life's amazing
It's the same old desire
Crazy train, crazy train
Burning like fire
Don't you ever take my name in vain
Same old desire
Nothing has changed, nothing's the same
Burning like fire
Don't you ever take my name in vain, oh yeah
It's the same old desire
Nothing has changed, nothing's the same
Burning like fire
Don't you ever take my name in vain
Same old desire
Crazy train, crazy train
Burning like fire
Don't you ever take my name in vain
Lyrics submitted by ChildOfAcid
Desire Lyrics as written by Randolph Frank Castillo John Osbourne
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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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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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Nice song, this album is one of ozzys top 3
Its the Desire to Rock and Roll!!! This song rocks! I always knew what I wanted to be! If Ozzy don't like his name in vain, Im sure god don't either. It Makes us Crazy!!!
This song is great. No confusing wordplay, just straight to the point.