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.
Casey joins the hollow sound of silent people walking down
The stairway to the subway in the shadows down below
Following their footsteps through the neon darkened corridors
Of silent desperation, never speakin' to a soul
The poison air he's breathin' has the dirty smell of dying
'Cause it's never seen the sunshine and it's never felt the rain
But Casey minds the arrows and ignores the fatal echoes
Of the clickin' of the turnstiles and the rattle of his chains
"Oh," she said, "Casey, it's been so long since I've seen you"
"Here," she said, "Just a kiss to make a body smile"
"See," she said, "I've put on new stockings just to please you"
"Lord," she said, "Casey, can you only stay a while?"
Casey leaves the under ground and stops inside the Golden Crown
For something wet to wipe away the chill that's on his bone
Seeing his reflection in the lives of all the lonely men
Who reach for any thing they can to keep from goin' home
Standin' in the corner, Casey, drinks his pint of bitter
Never glancing in the mirror at the people passing by
Then he stumbles as he's leaving and he wonders if the reason
Is the beer that's in his belly, or the tear that's in his eye
"Oh," she said, "I suppose you seldom think about me"
"Now," she said, "Now that you've a family of your own"
"Still" she said, "It's so blessed good to feel your body"
"Lord," she said" "Casey, it's a shame to be alone"
The stairway to the subway in the shadows down below
Following their footsteps through the neon darkened corridors
Of silent desperation, never speakin' to a soul
The poison air he's breathin' has the dirty smell of dying
'Cause it's never seen the sunshine and it's never felt the rain
But Casey minds the arrows and ignores the fatal echoes
Of the clickin' of the turnstiles and the rattle of his chains
"Oh," she said, "Casey, it's been so long since I've seen you"
"Here," she said, "Just a kiss to make a body smile"
"See," she said, "I've put on new stockings just to please you"
"Lord," she said, "Casey, can you only stay a while?"
Casey leaves the under ground and stops inside the Golden Crown
For something wet to wipe away the chill that's on his bone
Seeing his reflection in the lives of all the lonely men
Who reach for any thing they can to keep from goin' home
Standin' in the corner, Casey, drinks his pint of bitter
Never glancing in the mirror at the people passing by
Then he stumbles as he's leaving and he wonders if the reason
Is the beer that's in his belly, or the tear that's in his eye
"Oh," she said, "I suppose you seldom think about me"
"Now," she said, "Now that you've a family of your own"
"Still" she said, "It's so blessed good to feel your body"
"Lord," she said" "Casey, it's a shame to be alone"
Lyrics submitted by Disgustipated
Casey's Last Ride Lyrics as written by Kris Kristofferson
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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