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.
Well things can be broken down
In this world of ours
You don't have to be a famous person
Just to make a mark
A mother can be an inspiration
To her little son and
Change his thoughts, his mind, his life,
Just with her gentle hum hum
So different, yet so the same
Two sisters only have their parents to blame
It's rare that two can get along
But when they do, they're inseparable
Such a blessing comes to few, few
The sky is full of clouds and
My world's full of people
You got the different kinds,
With different ways
It would take a lifetime to explain
Not one's the same, he
He and she, two different people
With two separate lives
Then you put the two together
And you get a spectacular surprise
'Cause one can teach the other one
What she doesn't know
While still the other fills a place inside
He never knew had room to grow grow grow, grow grow
The sky is full of clouds and
My world's full of people
You got the different kinds,
With different ways
It would take a lifetime to explain
Not one's the same, hey
Oh yeah
Once in a while I sit back
And think about the planet
Most of the time I trip on it
To kick back and think about
How massive it all is
And how many others are on it
I often think about the world
In which I live today, of animals and plants
And nature's gifts set on display
But the most amazing thing
That I've seen in my time
Are all the different people
And all their different minds, minds, minds, minds, minds
And different ways
It would take a lifetime to explain
Not one's exactly the same
So many different people
So many different kinds
So many many many many different people
So many different
Look at me, I'm a person
Look at me, I'm my own person
So many different people
So many different kinds
For better or for worse, different people
In this world of ours
You don't have to be a famous person
Just to make a mark
A mother can be an inspiration
To her little son and
Change his thoughts, his mind, his life,
Just with her gentle hum hum
So different, yet so the same
Two sisters only have their parents to blame
It's rare that two can get along
But when they do, they're inseparable
Such a blessing comes to few, few
The sky is full of clouds and
My world's full of people
You got the different kinds,
With different ways
It would take a lifetime to explain
Not one's the same, he
He and she, two different people
With two separate lives
Then you put the two together
And you get a spectacular surprise
'Cause one can teach the other one
What she doesn't know
While still the other fills a place inside
He never knew had room to grow grow grow, grow grow
The sky is full of clouds and
My world's full of people
You got the different kinds,
With different ways
It would take a lifetime to explain
Not one's the same, hey
Oh yeah
Once in a while I sit back
And think about the planet
Most of the time I trip on it
To kick back and think about
How massive it all is
And how many others are on it
I often think about the world
In which I live today, of animals and plants
And nature's gifts set on display
But the most amazing thing
That I've seen in my time
Are all the different people
And all their different minds, minds, minds, minds, minds
And different ways
It would take a lifetime to explain
Not one's exactly the same
So many different people
So many different kinds
So many many many many different people
So many different
Look at me, I'm a person
Look at me, I'm my own person
So many different people
So many different kinds
For better or for worse, different people
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i LOVE this song. the music is awesome, and the lyrics are so amazingly true. i don't see how people can hate others just because they're different. everyone should respect everyone, no matter how different we are.