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.
You love the girl, you love the man
Who slipped away under the sign?
Open your eyes and you'll understand
Who broke your back, the gingerman
We are only learning to dive
You learnt it all when you were five
Holding your breaths to stay alive
Escape from the heat under the fan
Learning to love your Uncle Sam
We are only learning to dive
You love the girl, you love the man
Who slipped away under the sign
Open your eyes I bet you'd understand
Who broke your back, the gingerman
The sign on the door deserved a hand
Holding your breaths to be a man
But down on the floor you'll realise
The caterpillar-crawls and butter-flies
Escape from the heat under the fire
Learning to love our Uncle Sam
We are only learning to dive
Alison, the carousel
Broken hearts, another cell
Leaving here I'll understand
Foreign cars are in demand
Alison, the carousel
Broken hearts, another cell
Leaving here I'll understand
Foreign girls are in demand
Demand, in demand, demand
In demand, in demand
And we are only learning to dive
We are only learning to dive
We were barley learning to dive
Who slipped away under the sign?
Open your eyes and you'll understand
Who broke your back, the gingerman
We are only learning to dive
You learnt it all when you were five
Holding your breaths to stay alive
Escape from the heat under the fan
Learning to love your Uncle Sam
We are only learning to dive
You love the girl, you love the man
Who slipped away under the sign
Open your eyes I bet you'd understand
Who broke your back, the gingerman
The sign on the door deserved a hand
Holding your breaths to be a man
But down on the floor you'll realise
The caterpillar-crawls and butter-flies
Escape from the heat under the fire
Learning to love our Uncle Sam
We are only learning to dive
Alison, the carousel
Broken hearts, another cell
Leaving here I'll understand
Foreign cars are in demand
Alison, the carousel
Broken hearts, another cell
Leaving here I'll understand
Foreign girls are in demand
Demand, in demand, demand
In demand, in demand
And we are only learning to dive
We are only learning to dive
We were barley learning to dive
Lyrics submitted by JordyWordy
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