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.
an embarrassment of riches
up ahead between the ditches
steady on
pails of blue glass beads and baubles
in the toilets of the supermodels
steady on
watch what you wish for
as someone else pollutes it
some see the rarest bird
and hunt it down and shoot it
let me lose so beautifully
let me lick the dew from the money tree
have the moms of thr world all care about me
at suppertime
the road to wreckage stretches west
from survival to excess
and beyond
from magic beans and golden eggs
to swollen livers and tired legs
trammel on
the breakfast of failures
is an unexacting list
subtract opportunity
you can mix it up with your fists
let me lose so beautifully
let me lick the dew from the money tree
have the moms of the world all care about me
at suppertime
let me feel what it's like to have it
let me battle all of your rich man's habits
let me cry down the front of a smoking jacket
after suppertime
let me stand hypnotized by what I'm doing
smell the orchids by the road to ruin
when the heirs are asleep and we think about screwing
after suppertime
up ahead between the ditches
steady on
pails of blue glass beads and baubles
in the toilets of the supermodels
steady on
watch what you wish for
as someone else pollutes it
some see the rarest bird
and hunt it down and shoot it
let me lose so beautifully
let me lick the dew from the money tree
have the moms of thr world all care about me
at suppertime
the road to wreckage stretches west
from survival to excess
and beyond
from magic beans and golden eggs
to swollen livers and tired legs
trammel on
the breakfast of failures
is an unexacting list
subtract opportunity
you can mix it up with your fists
let me lose so beautifully
let me lick the dew from the money tree
have the moms of the world all care about me
at suppertime
let me feel what it's like to have it
let me battle all of your rich man's habits
let me cry down the front of a smoking jacket
after suppertime
let me stand hypnotized by what I'm doing
smell the orchids by the road to ruin
when the heirs are asleep and we think about screwing
after suppertime
Lyrics submitted by jamesaa
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What does this song mean?
I think it's about being rich and famous and all the ups and downs that it brings. <br /> <br /> 'some see the rarest bird and hunt it down and shoot it' I think this line is about the public and the press that they see someone really great and really successful and they ust want to bring them down by gossip and rumours etc. <br /> <br /> 'From survival to excess' when you are successful you start off just trying to keep being successful, but this leads to 'excess' to all the stupid things you read and hear about celebs doing these days.