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.
One million light years from home
Throwing up and feeling small
Where have I gone and landed tonight
I've been shot right to the core
Of NYC and hostility yeah
But you gotta laugh
'Cause there's something that I cannot do without
And it's in your hand
Where have I gone and landed tonight
A million light years from home
Throwing up and feeling small
And now I know that my mind is blown
'Cause there's something that I cannot do without
Something that I understand
Yeah there's something that I cannot do without
And it's in your hand
Cut down shot down
Any way you please
Don't get nothing for free
Big time small time
Any way you choose yeah
Don't mean nothing to me
Where have I gone and landed tonight
God give me strength
In a land of fakes and small time petty thieves
Must be the wrong place
'Cause all my honesty is true yeah
But it's gone to waste
On a soulless superficial void
Called the human race
Cut down shot down
Any way you please
Don't get nothing for free
Big time small time
Any way you choose yeah
Yeah but you gotta compete
Where have I gone and landed tonight
Throwing up and feeling small
One million light years from home
I've been shot right to the core
Of NYC and hostility yeah
But you gotta laugh
'Cause there's something that I cannot do without
And it's in your hand
Cut down shot down
Any way you please
Don't get nothing for free
Big time small time
Any way you choose yeah
Don't mean fuck all to me
Yeah I've been cut down shot down
Any way you please yeah
Sisters and brothers please yeah
Big time small time
Any way you please yeah
Don't mean nothing to me
Throwing up and feeling small
Where have I gone and landed tonight
I've been shot right to the core
Of NYC and hostility yeah
But you gotta laugh
'Cause there's something that I cannot do without
And it's in your hand
Where have I gone and landed tonight
A million light years from home
Throwing up and feeling small
And now I know that my mind is blown
'Cause there's something that I cannot do without
Something that I understand
Yeah there's something that I cannot do without
And it's in your hand
Cut down shot down
Any way you please
Don't get nothing for free
Big time small time
Any way you choose yeah
Don't mean nothing to me
Where have I gone and landed tonight
God give me strength
In a land of fakes and small time petty thieves
Must be the wrong place
'Cause all my honesty is true yeah
But it's gone to waste
On a soulless superficial void
Called the human race
Cut down shot down
Any way you please
Don't get nothing for free
Big time small time
Any way you choose yeah
Yeah but you gotta compete
Where have I gone and landed tonight
Throwing up and feeling small
One million light years from home
I've been shot right to the core
Of NYC and hostility yeah
But you gotta laugh
'Cause there's something that I cannot do without
And it's in your hand
Cut down shot down
Any way you please
Don't get nothing for free
Big time small time
Any way you choose yeah
Don't mean fuck all to me
Yeah I've been cut down shot down
Any way you please yeah
Sisters and brothers please yeah
Big time small time
Any way you please yeah
Don't mean nothing to me
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i pretty suprised noone has written anything about this song before me coz it really is quite meaningful! Took me a while to work out what i think it means but now it makes sense. i think it's mena be jesus coming down from his place in the sky or wherever to visit us on earth and see how we are getting along. He then start thinking he's in the wrong place coz it's completely different from how he left it and doesnt understand whas going on. In the end he realises it is earth and ends up quite shocked and angry at what's going on in the world now ( i think the verse that starts where have i gone and landed tonight, god give me strength.... shows this quite powerfully) i like this as it really makes you think just what has happened to the world and the human race. Seems a bit deep for ash....
p.s. does anyone know what the something is that he cant do without?