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.
So this is permanent
Love's shackled cry
What once was innocent
Turned on its side
A cloud hangs over me
Marks every move
Deep in the memory
What once was love
Oh how I've realized
How I wanted time
Thought it too protective
Tried so hard to find
Just for one moment
Thought I'd found my way
Destiny unfolded
I watched it slip away
Excessive flash points
Beyond our reach
Solitary demands for
All I'd like to keep
Let's take a ride out
See what we can find
My newest collections of
Hopes and passing times
I never realized
The lengths I'd have to go
All the darkest corners of
A sense I didn't know
Just for one moment
I heard somebody call
Looked beyond the day
And there's nothing there at all
Now that I've realized
How it's all gone wrong
Gotta find some therapy
This treatment takes too long
Deep in the heart of
Where sympathy felt swayed
I got to find my destiny
Before it gets too late
Love's shackled cry
What once was innocent
Turned on its side
A cloud hangs over me
Marks every move
Deep in the memory
What once was love
Oh how I've realized
How I wanted time
Thought it too protective
Tried so hard to find
Just for one moment
Thought I'd found my way
Destiny unfolded
I watched it slip away
Excessive flash points
Beyond our reach
Solitary demands for
All I'd like to keep
Let's take a ride out
See what we can find
My newest collections of
Hopes and passing times
I never realized
The lengths I'd have to go
All the darkest corners of
A sense I didn't know
Just for one moment
I heard somebody call
Looked beyond the day
And there's nothing there at all
Now that I've realized
How it's all gone wrong
Gotta find some therapy
This treatment takes too long
Deep in the heart of
Where sympathy felt swayed
I got to find my destiny
Before it gets too late
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