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.
Stuck in a corner
Are monkeys in cages
That don't have a number
To fight one another
Try to recover
Climb up the ladder
Look up and you see birds
Blind as each other
How long can we suffer?
We're as blind as each other
On the cloud that you're sitting
There's one born every minute
So much to discover
I've become a believer
Sisters and brothers
Who fight one another
Will mourn and deceive us
Will find us and keep us
Take us or leave us
How soon is now? yeah
How long is never?
I'm nothing but normal
With something together
Come on and stick together
On the cloud that you're sitting
There's one born every minute
So much to discover
I've become a believer
Are monkeys in cages
That don't have a number
To fight one another
Try to recover
Climb up the ladder
Look up and you see birds
Blind as each other
How long can we suffer?
We're as blind as each other
On the cloud that you're sitting
There's one born every minute
So much to discover
I've become a believer
Sisters and brothers
Who fight one another
Will mourn and deceive us
Will find us and keep us
Take us or leave us
How soon is now? yeah
How long is never?
I'm nothing but normal
With something together
Come on and stick together
On the cloud that you're sitting
There's one born every minute
So much to discover
I've become a believer
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*grammar