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'm going from strange to stranger
Every year
It's going from strange to stranger
Every year
I take it back
You're panicking
I take it back
I just don't know
I really thought I wanted to go
But when you're close
You look through me just like a ghost
I like sleeping
I'm only safe when I'm dreaming
I need a new heart
This one's hollow always scheming
You wait for summer
And then you wait for winter
But there's a total lack of splendor
Zen brain
Throw away your crushes
All your childhood crutches away
Super brain
Never scared of nothing
Violence or loving my way
Every year
It's going from strange to stranger
Every year
I take it back
You're panicking
I take it back
I just don't know
I really thought I wanted to go
But when you're close
You look through me just like a ghost
I like sleeping
I'm only safe when I'm dreaming
I need a new heart
This one's hollow always scheming
You wait for summer
And then you wait for winter
But there's a total lack of splendor
Zen brain
Throw away your crushes
All your childhood crutches away
Super brain
Never scared of nothing
Violence or loving my way
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I always thought that zen brain is a super brain (like the song says) which can push all your problems away by thinking "this is not a big deal" i think that's what the song is saying, that all your problems are in your brain and you can make them go away by saying to yourself that you can get over it "it's not such a big deal" Altough it might not seems like it