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.
(Alone 2 demo alternate lyrics in parentheses)
My brain is working overtime
I need something to ease my mind
'Cause as my thoughts go manic
I reel and start to panic
And there's no place to hide behind
I freak and then hallucinate
I go at lights when I should wait
My parents think I'm lazy
But damn, I'm going crazy
I can't help my mental state
Oh, la la - he's trippin'
La di da - mental slippin'
Take these brains
Out of my way
I work into a frenzied clip
I bite the corners of my lip
I'm losing my appetite
My pants don't even fit right
Take away the month old dip
Give me something for my hair (My hair could start a bowl cut fad)
A fresher pair of underwear (The state of my attire is sad)
'Cause if I was run over
By a brand new Range Rover
Ah, just skip it, I don't care (Hey, I'd actually be glad)
Oh, la la - he's trippin'
La di da - mental slippin'
Take these brains
Out of my way
(Do you really want me down?
Do you really want me?
Do you really want me down?
'Cause I'm waiting to see)
I tell the world to fuck itself
'Cause who decided what's sick or health?
And all the people I see
That's banking lots of Benji's
Make me want to puke myself
Start a brand new fashion trend
For those up on the deeper end
Sedatives and Nodoz
And edible pantyhose
On your plate, so dig right in
Oh, la la - he's trippin'
La di da - mental slippin'
Take these brains
Out of my way
Na na na na....na
My brain is working overtime
I need something to ease my mind
'Cause as my thoughts go manic
I reel and start to panic
And there's no place to hide behind
I freak and then hallucinate
I go at lights when I should wait
My parents think I'm lazy
But damn, I'm going crazy
I can't help my mental state
Oh, la la - he's trippin'
La di da - mental slippin'
Take these brains
Out of my way
I work into a frenzied clip
I bite the corners of my lip
I'm losing my appetite
My pants don't even fit right
Take away the month old dip
Give me something for my hair (My hair could start a bowl cut fad)
A fresher pair of underwear (The state of my attire is sad)
'Cause if I was run over
By a brand new Range Rover
Ah, just skip it, I don't care (Hey, I'd actually be glad)
Oh, la la - he's trippin'
La di da - mental slippin'
Take these brains
Out of my way
(Do you really want me down?
Do you really want me?
Do you really want me down?
'Cause I'm waiting to see)
I tell the world to fuck itself
'Cause who decided what's sick or health?
And all the people I see
That's banking lots of Benji's
Make me want to puke myself
Start a brand new fashion trend
For those up on the deeper end
Sedatives and Nodoz
And edible pantyhose
On your plate, so dig right in
Oh, la la - he's trippin'
La di da - mental slippin'
Take these brains
Out of my way
Na na na na....na
Lyrics submitted by tirhascragoo
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These are the lyrics for the demo version as stated above. This song is great. The part where River's says "i tell the world too fuck it's self" and down he took that out of the alone II version because river's doesn't like curseing. He has really changed since he wrote the demo. He is into meditateing and such so that is why he didn't use the demo version on this song.