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.
He circled and stared
Nervous and scared
He knew both the thrill and the cost
But he didn't think twice
This amazing device
Was his last chance to see what he'd lost
If time is really a river
And upstream's where he needed to be
He set his sights on the past
Finished his glass
And went back in history
[Chorus:]
To the casual eye it's a bar stool
But it's really much more than it seems
A few drinks and then
She'll be with him again
As he sits on the time machine
Like all pioneers
He swallowed his fears
And watched the whole room fade to black
He's dying to go
But he's no fool, he knows
How hard it will be to come back
But tonight he's tired of the lonely
And tomorrow will not be the cure
So he'll just slip away
Find yesterday
And spend one more night with her
Now, as far as these customers can tell
He's just one more fool who talks to himself
But every man in this place would line up
If they knew what that seat really was (but)
[Chorus]
Just a few drinks and then
She'll be with him again
As he sits on the time machine
Nervous and scared
He knew both the thrill and the cost
But he didn't think twice
This amazing device
Was his last chance to see what he'd lost
If time is really a river
And upstream's where he needed to be
He set his sights on the past
Finished his glass
And went back in history
[Chorus:]
To the casual eye it's a bar stool
But it's really much more than it seems
A few drinks and then
She'll be with him again
As he sits on the time machine
Like all pioneers
He swallowed his fears
And watched the whole room fade to black
He's dying to go
But he's no fool, he knows
How hard it will be to come back
But tonight he's tired of the lonely
And tomorrow will not be the cure
So he'll just slip away
Find yesterday
And spend one more night with her
Now, as far as these customers can tell
He's just one more fool who talks to himself
But every man in this place would line up
If they knew what that seat really was (but)
[Chorus]
Just a few drinks and then
She'll be with him again
As he sits on the time machine
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
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Country music at its best.Millions of older men have sat alone on a bar stool nursing a drink riding a time machine without even knowing it.The real pioneer never comes back.