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.
It comes from all we're giving in seemingly endless supply
As signals cross defiantly into this volatile mix we charge
And the stubborn mind repeats the errors
To challenge our grounds
Either soar above or the detour takes you right back down
To where no one wants to see
Misgivings in this starry nightlight, fill in the blanks
That one will fall, to the haunts and horrors
There is nothing left, a mere shadow when adrenaline runs dry
There is nothing there, empty prop when adrenaline runs dry
It gets you deep down low
As they told you of the blazing heights
The stage from which the world is viewed
Is the mirror to shatter the image
The crypt he kept for hiding retreat from another attack
Painlessly forgiving a refuge in deceptive black
It works within the system, and they won't understand
A lesser known deceiver will fool you even more
Taunt the wasted, it's all about nothing
What to squeeze within the span of attention
Brought to ground, let the chaos pass
That one will fail by the screams and terrors
As signals cross defiantly into this volatile mix we charge
And the stubborn mind repeats the errors
To challenge our grounds
Either soar above or the detour takes you right back down
To where no one wants to see
Misgivings in this starry nightlight, fill in the blanks
That one will fall, to the haunts and horrors
There is nothing left, a mere shadow when adrenaline runs dry
There is nothing there, empty prop when adrenaline runs dry
It gets you deep down low
As they told you of the blazing heights
The stage from which the world is viewed
Is the mirror to shatter the image
The crypt he kept for hiding retreat from another attack
Painlessly forgiving a refuge in deceptive black
It works within the system, and they won't understand
A lesser known deceiver will fool you even more
Taunt the wasted, it's all about nothing
What to squeeze within the span of attention
Brought to ground, let the chaos pass
That one will fail by the screams and terrors
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