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.
Add it up, all the times you've had enough
waterworks and endless, sleepless nights.
Hold it back. When the time comes to attack,
you?ll be ready; They'll say, "You were right."
And they'll be coming back to see
everything that I've seen.
They're gonna get it. Got it? Go!
'Cause you're gonna show that you're gonna go
all the way, all the way.
You've gotta take it if you wanna make it
all the way, all the way.
You want it, you need it.
You won?t be defeated;
no, you won't
Can't you see it's in motion?
Offer blood and devotion.
Scars will heal in time.
Smashing glass just to get past
a cardiac. The harder that they come,
the harder they will be falling down.
Crawling back to see,
down on shattered knee.
They're gonna get it. Got it? Go!
'Cause you're gonna show that you're gonna go
all the way, all the way.
You've gotta take it if you wanna make it
all the way, all the way.
You want it, you need it.
You won't be defeated,
no, you won't.
All your life
they cut you down to size.
Everything in time?
And what goes around always comes around.
And what goes around always comes around.
You want it, you need it.
You won't be defeated,
no, you won't.
waterworks and endless, sleepless nights.
Hold it back. When the time comes to attack,
you?ll be ready; They'll say, "You were right."
And they'll be coming back to see
everything that I've seen.
They're gonna get it. Got it? Go!
'Cause you're gonna show that you're gonna go
all the way, all the way.
You've gotta take it if you wanna make it
all the way, all the way.
You want it, you need it.
You won?t be defeated;
no, you won't
Can't you see it's in motion?
Offer blood and devotion.
Scars will heal in time.
Smashing glass just to get past
a cardiac. The harder that they come,
the harder they will be falling down.
Crawling back to see,
down on shattered knee.
They're gonna get it. Got it? Go!
'Cause you're gonna show that you're gonna go
all the way, all the way.
You've gotta take it if you wanna make it
all the way, all the way.
You want it, you need it.
You won't be defeated,
no, you won't.
All your life
they cut you down to size.
Everything in time?
And what goes around always comes around.
And what goes around always comes around.
You want it, you need it.
You won't be defeated,
no, you won't.
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i love this song! has a great beat to it, just one of those songs some would call "bubblegum crap" but its awesome! "what goes around always comes around" so true.