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.
I was a young boy that had big plans
Now I'm just another shitty old man
I don't have fun, and I hate everything
The world owes me, so fuck you
Glory days don't mean shit to me
I drank a six-pack of apathy
Life's a bitch, and so am I
The world owes me, so fuck you
Wasted youth, and a fistful of ideals
I had a young and optimistic point of view
Wasted youth, and a fistful of ideals
I had a young and optimistic point of view
I've decomposed, yet my gut's gettin' fat
Oh my God, I'm turnin' out like my dad
I'm always rude, I've got a bad attitude
The world owes me, so fuck you
The wife's a nag, and the kid's fuckin' up
I don't have sex 'cause I can't get it up
I'm just a grouch sittin' on the couch
The world owes me, so fuck you
Wasted youth, and a fistful of ideals
I had a young and optimistic point of view
Wasted youth, and a fistful of ideals
I had a young and optimistic point of view
('Til I grew up)
I was a young boy that had big plans
Now I'm just another shitty old man
I don't have fun, and I hate everything
The world owes me, so fuck you
Glory days don't mean shit to me
I drank a six-pack of apathy
Life's a bitch, and so am I
The world owes me, so fuck you
The world owes me, so fuck you
The world owes me, so fuck you
Now I'm just another shitty old man
I don't have fun, and I hate everything
The world owes me, so fuck you
Glory days don't mean shit to me
I drank a six-pack of apathy
Life's a bitch, and so am I
The world owes me, so fuck you
Wasted youth, and a fistful of ideals
I had a young and optimistic point of view
Wasted youth, and a fistful of ideals
I had a young and optimistic point of view
I've decomposed, yet my gut's gettin' fat
Oh my God, I'm turnin' out like my dad
I'm always rude, I've got a bad attitude
The world owes me, so fuck you
The wife's a nag, and the kid's fuckin' up
I don't have sex 'cause I can't get it up
I'm just a grouch sittin' on the couch
The world owes me, so fuck you
Wasted youth, and a fistful of ideals
I had a young and optimistic point of view
Wasted youth, and a fistful of ideals
I had a young and optimistic point of view
('Til I grew up)
I was a young boy that had big plans
Now I'm just another shitty old man
I don't have fun, and I hate everything
The world owes me, so fuck you
Glory days don't mean shit to me
I drank a six-pack of apathy
Life's a bitch, and so am I
The world owes me, so fuck you
The world owes me, so fuck you
The world owes me, so fuck you
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This song is so fucking great. I love it! I think he's saying he doesn't want to be old, be a "grouch." He wants to stay young and be himself, optimistic. He's saying his dad was old and a grouch I'm guessing. Nothing went the way he planned... so he thinks the world owes him. I think most of us feel that at one point or another. amazing song
He's singin of the fact of life, no matter how hard you try you always end up fucked sooner or later, the world owes me so FUCK YOU!
yeah, this song is about you getting fucked up after wishing and wanting so much to become something you wanted to be, and even if you did become what you wanted, it's not what you wanted in the end.
yeah, i agree with carl, basically just a fear of becoming another old asshole like a lot of us fear
"Wasted youth and a fistful of ideas I had a young and optimistic point of view "
Things didn't turn out the way he planned so he feels the world owes him... Great song.
Luv, Louise xxx
i think he is singing about what he doesn't hope to become.
I think he's basically saying that no matter what you want to be when you're young, this is what you're most likely to end up as.
karl i think your damn right
i agree with colourmepunk182
great song. a good sogn to listen to when you're feeli0n down about the way life is going. you realize other people hate life too. so you don't feel as bad.