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.
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
My head's a TV
And you're on every channel
Did no one ever tell you bout the dirty truth?
We're all a bit mental
So write your history
As a pretty little work of fiction
So many bones rattlin' in the coffin of your youth
We'll exhume a fable
You can, you can, you can shut your mouth
You can, you can, you can shut your mouth
'Cause everybody's fighting battles
That you don't know anything about
Come on, come on, take a look in my house
Every time I touch the piano I'm just full of doubts
Just another bit of secrecy
Every time you feel like giving up
Every time you'd swear you'd had enough
Just remember what you're dreaming of
But when you do it, you do it for the love
Yeah, when you do it, you do it for the love
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
This old sweater
Holds a trace of the bonfire
We threw your teenage diaries on to the flames
Too sad to remember
A patient memory
And a single neon tear
Watch it dance like grass in a hurricane
Through another year
I tried to hide my feelings for too long
I just wanted everyone to get along
'Cause everybody's fighting battles
Underneath another thunderstorm
Come on, come on, don't you wanna be heard
Your savior's just somebody who's been under-researched
Not just another bit of secrecy
Every time you feel like giving up
Every time you'd swear you'd had enough
Just remember what you're dreaming of
But when you do it, you do it for the love
Yeah, when you do it, you do it for the love
Love, love
When you do it, you do it for the love
Yeah, when you do it, may as well do it for the love
My head's a TV
And you're on every channel
Did no one ever tell you bout the dirty truth?
We're all a bit mental
So write your history
As a pretty little work of fiction
So many bones rattlin' in the coffin of your youth
We'll exhume a fable
You can, you can, you can shut your mouth
You can, you can, you can shut your mouth
'Cause everybody's fighting battles
That you don't know anything about
Come on, come on, take a look in my house
Every time I touch the piano I'm just full of doubts
Just another bit of secrecy
Every time you feel like giving up
Every time you'd swear you'd had enough
Just remember what you're dreaming of
But when you do it, you do it for the love
Yeah, when you do it, you do it for the love
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh
This old sweater
Holds a trace of the bonfire
We threw your teenage diaries on to the flames
Too sad to remember
A patient memory
And a single neon tear
Watch it dance like grass in a hurricane
Through another year
I tried to hide my feelings for too long
I just wanted everyone to get along
'Cause everybody's fighting battles
Underneath another thunderstorm
Come on, come on, don't you wanna be heard
Your savior's just somebody who's been under-researched
Not just another bit of secrecy
Every time you feel like giving up
Every time you'd swear you'd had enough
Just remember what you're dreaming of
But when you do it, you do it for the love
Yeah, when you do it, you do it for the love
Love, love
When you do it, you do it for the love
Yeah, when you do it, may as well do it for the love
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