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.
In a dream that I cant seem to shake she is standing alone.
By the fence I see tears in her eyes,
why she cries, I just dont know.
What a mess that I make of my days.
Then theres you, you're a mess to be made.
The dream starts to fade away..
So youre leaving for months at a time,
I'll help you out the door.
Once your gone I'll just stare out the window.
Please could you please come back home.
What a mess that I make of my days,
trying to save myself, save myself.
Then theres you, your a mess to be made.
a canvas only paint could change.
And a voice on the other end of the phone,
says, "why dont you write a song about it."
Well here it goes.
I was raised on something that you'll never know.
Id' hate this place if it werent for the waves,
if it werent for the fact that you love it. Where they measure a man on the money he spends,
well my love is not a bank statement.
What a mess that i make of my days,
trying to save myself, save myself.
Then theres you, you're a mess to be made,
a mess to be made, a mess to be made,
and the dream starts to fade away.
By the fence I see tears in her eyes,
why she cries, I just dont know.
What a mess that I make of my days.
Then theres you, you're a mess to be made.
The dream starts to fade away..
So youre leaving for months at a time,
I'll help you out the door.
Once your gone I'll just stare out the window.
Please could you please come back home.
What a mess that I make of my days,
trying to save myself, save myself.
Then theres you, your a mess to be made.
a canvas only paint could change.
And a voice on the other end of the phone,
says, "why dont you write a song about it."
Well here it goes.
I was raised on something that you'll never know.
Id' hate this place if it werent for the waves,
if it werent for the fact that you love it. Where they measure a man on the money he spends,
well my love is not a bank statement.
What a mess that i make of my days,
trying to save myself, save myself.
Then theres you, you're a mess to be made,
a mess to be made, a mess to be made,
and the dream starts to fade away.
Lyrics submitted by jessay
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I'm not sure if this is what is meant, but "a mess to be made" could refer to the mistakes the person has not made yet...and he obviously has made a mess of his days, and doesn't want to screw up her life like he's screwed up his. She leaves because he has trouble really connecting in the relationship when he's so afraid he'll hurt her (and thus in his dream, she's all alone with tears in her eyes), and she can't take it. So he helps her out the door, he knows he's not a good thing in her life, but when she gone he just thinks about her and wants her back. No one else really sees him as a screw-up like he sees himself, since he's doing fine financially. But he knows that his life is so much more than numbers on paper.