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.
My mother had a brother
They say that I was born on the day that he died
Someone to cling to, she said
When all the noises and the shame came calling
My mother had a brother
I thought I knew them all, I thought I knew
But she lied
I said, "Show me his face again, tell me again why he died"
She said he couldn't wait for the things that I've seen
She said he wasn't strong enough, he never dared to dream a life like mine
My mother had a brother
Over-sensitive and kind
Seems it all became too much for him.
It seems he took his own life
Mum, I can't imagine the joy and pain in equal measure
Tears in the dirt, and all over your newborn treasure
I guess he had to wait until my momma had me
I guess he couldn't wait another moment to be free
In endless sky
But mama will you tell him from your boy
The times they changed
I guess the world was getting warmer
And we got stronger
Mother will you tell him about my joy
I live each day for him
The sun came out, yeah, and I'm just breathing it in
My mother had a brother
Same desire, different time
Seems the empty spaces tortured him
Until he took his own life
I don't know why I waited so long for love
I just don't know what I was thinking of
All that wasted time
But mama will you tell him from your boy
The times they changed
I guess the world was getting warmer
While we got stronger
Mother will you tell him about my joy
I live each day with him
Your son came out, yeah,
And I'm still breathing it in
And I swear now that freedom is here
I'm gonna taste it all for you boy
I'm bad to the bone, I'm just a little torn
I'm making so much love
So those of us who have nothing to fear
We've got to make damn sure that it was worth it
I'm bad to the bone, I'm just a little stoned
I'm making so much love
I was a prisoner, but he saved me
Broke into my dreams and said, "Who cares?"
I was a prisoner, so disgrace me
I'm glad to be home
And I don't believe they care.
They say that I was born on the day that he died
Someone to cling to, she said
When all the noises and the shame came calling
My mother had a brother
I thought I knew them all, I thought I knew
But she lied
I said, "Show me his face again, tell me again why he died"
She said he couldn't wait for the things that I've seen
She said he wasn't strong enough, he never dared to dream a life like mine
My mother had a brother
Over-sensitive and kind
Seems it all became too much for him.
It seems he took his own life
Mum, I can't imagine the joy and pain in equal measure
Tears in the dirt, and all over your newborn treasure
I guess he had to wait until my momma had me
I guess he couldn't wait another moment to be free
In endless sky
But mama will you tell him from your boy
The times they changed
I guess the world was getting warmer
And we got stronger
Mother will you tell him about my joy
I live each day for him
The sun came out, yeah, and I'm just breathing it in
My mother had a brother
Same desire, different time
Seems the empty spaces tortured him
Until he took his own life
I don't know why I waited so long for love
I just don't know what I was thinking of
All that wasted time
But mama will you tell him from your boy
The times they changed
I guess the world was getting warmer
While we got stronger
Mother will you tell him about my joy
I live each day with him
Your son came out, yeah,
And I'm still breathing it in
And I swear now that freedom is here
I'm gonna taste it all for you boy
I'm bad to the bone, I'm just a little torn
I'm making so much love
So those of us who have nothing to fear
We've got to make damn sure that it was worth it
I'm bad to the bone, I'm just a little stoned
I'm making so much love
I was a prisoner, but he saved me
Broke into my dreams and said, "Who cares?"
I was a prisoner, so disgrace me
I'm glad to be home
And I don't believe they care.
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I think it is talking about gays yes it is talking about a young man who had an uncle who was a gay and he commited a suicide cos he couldn't face the world at that time in which gays didn't have thier rightd as nowadays so the young boy who is gay too " same desire different age" thinks of him as a hero and feels pity for him and he wanted to send a message to him saying that gays are having thier joy now freely as time has changed and "the world is getting warmer as we are getting stronger" nice song though i hate gays.
@lennon-mccartney <br /> You've got issues