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.
Sound system gonna bring me back up
Yeah, one thing that I can depend on
Sound system gonna bring me back up
Right, one thing that I can depend on
Try to describe it to the limit of my ability
It's there for a second, then it's giving up what it used to be
Contained in music, somehow more than just sound
This inspiration coming and twisting things around
'Cause you always know that it's gonna have to go
You always know that you'll be back in the cold
Point of departure sublimated in a song
It's always coming to give me that hope for just a second then it's gone but
Sound system gonna bring me back up
Right, one thing that I can depend on
Sound system gonna bring me back up
Yeah, one thing that I can depend on
Static pulse inside of music bringing us escape
It's always temporary, changing nothing in its wake
Just a second where we're leaving all this shit behind
Just a second, but it's leaving just this much in mind
To resist despair, that second makes you see
To resist despair, 'cause you can't change everything
To resist despair, in this world is
What it is, what it is, what it is to be free
Sound system gonna bring me back up
Right, one thing that I can depend on
Sound system gonna bring me back up
Yeah, one thing that I can depend on
Hup, hup, hup, hup
Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up
Pick it up, pick it up (sound system), pick it up, pick it up, pick it up
Sound system
Sound system
Wake up, turn my box on, bust the shade, let the sun in
Times are getting tougher, 'bout time to start running
Box in my hand, music by my side
Skankin' to the rhythm of the music by my side
Sound system gonna bring me back up
Yeah, one thing that I can depend on
Sound system gonna bring me back up
Right, one thing that I can depend on
Yeah
Sound system gonna bring me back up
Right, one thing that I can depend on
Sound system gonna bring me back up
Yeah, one thing that I can depend on
Sound (sound) system (system)
Sound (sound) system (system)
Yeah, one thing that I can depend on
Sound system gonna bring me back up
Right, one thing that I can depend on
Try to describe it to the limit of my ability
It's there for a second, then it's giving up what it used to be
Contained in music, somehow more than just sound
This inspiration coming and twisting things around
'Cause you always know that it's gonna have to go
You always know that you'll be back in the cold
Point of departure sublimated in a song
It's always coming to give me that hope for just a second then it's gone but
Sound system gonna bring me back up
Right, one thing that I can depend on
Sound system gonna bring me back up
Yeah, one thing that I can depend on
Static pulse inside of music bringing us escape
It's always temporary, changing nothing in its wake
Just a second where we're leaving all this shit behind
Just a second, but it's leaving just this much in mind
To resist despair, that second makes you see
To resist despair, 'cause you can't change everything
To resist despair, in this world is
What it is, what it is, what it is to be free
Sound system gonna bring me back up
Right, one thing that I can depend on
Sound system gonna bring me back up
Yeah, one thing that I can depend on
Hup, hup, hup, hup
Pick it up, pick it up, pick it up
Pick it up, pick it up (sound system), pick it up, pick it up, pick it up
Sound system
Sound system
Wake up, turn my box on, bust the shade, let the sun in
Times are getting tougher, 'bout time to start running
Box in my hand, music by my side
Skankin' to the rhythm of the music by my side
Sound system gonna bring me back up
Yeah, one thing that I can depend on
Sound system gonna bring me back up
Right, one thing that I can depend on
Yeah
Sound system gonna bring me back up
Right, one thing that I can depend on
Sound system gonna bring me back up
Yeah, one thing that I can depend on
Sound (sound) system (system)
Sound (sound) system (system)
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