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.
She came out west
To find the sun
She lost her name
But found a new one
Amy goes to school all day
But at night in the neighborhood
They call her
Amphetamine
She is perfect in that fucked up way
That all the magazines
Seem to want to glorify these days
She looks like a teenage anthem
She looks like she used to be happy with
The girl inside
She looks so bored sometimes
She has that super pale skin
And those soft green eyes
She looks like she
Could have been happy
In a better life
She came out west
Just to break away clean
From her family and her friends
And a little girl's dream
All she wants to do every night
Is to sit beside my window
And listen to the sirens
She is perfect in that fucked up way
That all the magazines
Seem to want to glorify these days
She looks like a teenage anthem
She looks like she should have been happy
In another life
In another life
She came out west
Just to break the spell
After three long years'
In a marriage from hell
Six months clean
Living sober and right
The doctors tell her
Everything will be alright
Yeah you just take your pill
And everything will be alright
She looks like a teenage anthem
She looks like a magazine girl
She looks like a teenage anthem
Like she used to be happy
In another world
She looks like a teenage anthem
She is happy with the girl inside
She looks like a teenage anthem
And looks like she could have been
Happy in another life
In another life
Happy in another life
Met her at a party
And I took her home
She is the saddest girl
That I have ever known
She wakes me up
In the middle of the night
Just to tell me
Everything will be alright
Amy smiles at me and tells me
Everything will be alright
I tell myself the same damn thing
Everyday
Everything will be alright
To find the sun
She lost her name
But found a new one
Amy goes to school all day
But at night in the neighborhood
They call her
Amphetamine
She is perfect in that fucked up way
That all the magazines
Seem to want to glorify these days
She looks like a teenage anthem
She looks like she used to be happy with
The girl inside
She looks so bored sometimes
She has that super pale skin
And those soft green eyes
She looks like she
Could have been happy
In a better life
She came out west
Just to break away clean
From her family and her friends
And a little girl's dream
All she wants to do every night
Is to sit beside my window
And listen to the sirens
She is perfect in that fucked up way
That all the magazines
Seem to want to glorify these days
She looks like a teenage anthem
She looks like she should have been happy
In another life
In another life
She came out west
Just to break the spell
After three long years'
In a marriage from hell
Six months clean
Living sober and right
The doctors tell her
Everything will be alright
Yeah you just take your pill
And everything will be alright
She looks like a teenage anthem
She looks like a magazine girl
She looks like a teenage anthem
Like she used to be happy
In another world
She looks like a teenage anthem
She is happy with the girl inside
She looks like a teenage anthem
And looks like she could have been
Happy in another life
In another life
Happy in another life
Met her at a party
And I took her home
She is the saddest girl
That I have ever known
She wakes me up
In the middle of the night
Just to tell me
Everything will be alright
Amy smiles at me and tells me
Everything will be alright
I tell myself the same damn thing
Everyday
Everything will be alright
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
Amphetamine Lyrics as written by Craig Montoya Art Alexakis
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
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.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
"Yeah Amy smiles at me, tells me everything will be alright. Yeah I tell myself the same damn thing, Everyday."
. . . I used to tell myself the same thing . . . not anymore though.