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.
Some people tell me that I need help
Some people can fuck off and go to hell
God damn, why they criticize me
Now shit is on the rise so my family despise me
Fuck em! And feed em cause I don't need em
I won't join em if I can beat em
They don't understand my logic
To my gat to my money and I'm hooked on chronic
I never wanted to hurt a nigga
Unless ya come flexing that trigga, I dig ya
That grave on the east side of town
Lay ya six feet underground
From man, to the dust to the ashes
All I remember tell me where the cash is
Clic Cloc barrel at my dome
Give all your loot or you ain't going home
But I ain't going out wit the pain
I'm having illusions I'm having illusions driving me mad inside
I'm having illusions I'm having illusions fucking me up in my mind
I'm having illusions I'm having illusions driving me mad inside
I'm having illusions I'm having illusions fucking me up in my mind
Motherfuckers be driving me up the walls
Hoping that I fall but they can suck my balls
Straight jacket, strap it
In a padded room when some punk niggas can't hack it
Distracted from our reality
Now I'm let out on a minor technicality
They all fucked up now
Cause they let a nigga back on the street somehow
I'm looking for someone like me
Living in my own world to my own degree
On the loose in the city looking at the ho wit the big titties
Looking at me and I feel shitty
A little tensed up getting hot
Cause she looks like my girl who just smoked at the crack spot
I'm trying to find ways to cope
But I ain't fucking round wit the gauge or a rope
I'm having illusions I'm having illusions driving me mad inside
I'm having illusions I'm having illusions fucking me up in my mind
I'm having illusions I'm having illusions driving me mad inside
I'm having illusions I'm having illusions fucking me up in my mind
I'm having illusions
Some people can fuck off and go to hell
God damn, why they criticize me
Now shit is on the rise so my family despise me
Fuck em! And feed em cause I don't need em
I won't join em if I can beat em
They don't understand my logic
To my gat to my money and I'm hooked on chronic
I never wanted to hurt a nigga
Unless ya come flexing that trigga, I dig ya
That grave on the east side of town
Lay ya six feet underground
From man, to the dust to the ashes
All I remember tell me where the cash is
Clic Cloc barrel at my dome
Give all your loot or you ain't going home
But I ain't going out wit the pain
I'm having illusions I'm having illusions driving me mad inside
I'm having illusions I'm having illusions fucking me up in my mind
I'm having illusions I'm having illusions driving me mad inside
I'm having illusions I'm having illusions fucking me up in my mind
Motherfuckers be driving me up the walls
Hoping that I fall but they can suck my balls
Straight jacket, strap it
In a padded room when some punk niggas can't hack it
Distracted from our reality
Now I'm let out on a minor technicality
They all fucked up now
Cause they let a nigga back on the street somehow
I'm looking for someone like me
Living in my own world to my own degree
On the loose in the city looking at the ho wit the big titties
Looking at me and I feel shitty
A little tensed up getting hot
Cause she looks like my girl who just smoked at the crack spot
I'm trying to find ways to cope
But I ain't fucking round wit the gauge or a rope
I'm having illusions I'm having illusions driving me mad inside
I'm having illusions I'm having illusions fucking me up in my mind
I'm having illusions I'm having illusions driving me mad inside
I'm having illusions I'm having illusions fucking me up in my mind
I'm having illusions
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Great version of a great song,
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a portrait of post traumatic stress disorder. wars arent its only cause.
My interpretation of this song is that he is struggling with his inner demons. Trying to find the right path between good and evil, right and wrong. Another interpretation is that hes having nightmares of past memories and reliving them and trying to figure out what he could have done differently.
ok only one comment? anyways bad ass song.. fuck em all!
dynomite tuuune. :)