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.
I couldn't stand another second in your room staring
At the easy gestures of your wrist spreading perfume sparingly
Behind the ears and across the neck I once studied so carefully
It had been too long
It had been too long
It had been too long since I had watched you move
I had to cut out for some fresh air on the landing
But I got nothing but the smell of rotten fruit rising up from the alley
Suddenly I realized I wasn't young anymore and I was still hiding out from your daddy
I had spent so long
I had spent so long
I had spent so long loving you
My mother built her name on getting out of sorry situations
My father bought a piece of land he didn't care to ever stray from
And I was the very worst kind of cool combination
I wanted to stay
I wanted to stay
I wanted to stay but I always go
I don't know if I can go and drink with you on Saturday
I've been dizzy inside this dirty window since that last time you walked away
Well the cars and trucks bolt and fizzle like fireworks on the freeway
But I wonder where they go
I wonder where they go
I wonder where they go to explode
You and me I guess we were just born to be free Sally
Well that's the kind of think you say when you lose your grip on something
I pushed my way this far but now I don't know how to stop running
And I can't stand still
I can't stand still
I can't stand still and follow you
I don't mind losing everything that I lived for once
The earth spins for seventy-five cents down at the local laundromat
Well Chris says you've got to lose your head something to save your neck
So Sally go on
Sally go on
Sally go on and that's just what I'll do
At the easy gestures of your wrist spreading perfume sparingly
Behind the ears and across the neck I once studied so carefully
It had been too long
It had been too long
It had been too long since I had watched you move
I had to cut out for some fresh air on the landing
But I got nothing but the smell of rotten fruit rising up from the alley
Suddenly I realized I wasn't young anymore and I was still hiding out from your daddy
I had spent so long
I had spent so long
I had spent so long loving you
My mother built her name on getting out of sorry situations
My father bought a piece of land he didn't care to ever stray from
And I was the very worst kind of cool combination
I wanted to stay
I wanted to stay
I wanted to stay but I always go
I don't know if I can go and drink with you on Saturday
I've been dizzy inside this dirty window since that last time you walked away
Well the cars and trucks bolt and fizzle like fireworks on the freeway
But I wonder where they go
I wonder where they go
I wonder where they go to explode
You and me I guess we were just born to be free Sally
Well that's the kind of think you say when you lose your grip on something
I pushed my way this far but now I don't know how to stop running
And I can't stand still
I can't stand still
I can't stand still and follow you
I don't mind losing everything that I lived for once
The earth spins for seventy-five cents down at the local laundromat
Well Chris says you've got to lose your head something to save your neck
So Sally go on
Sally go on
Sally go on and that's just what I'll do
Lyrics submitted by workinprogress
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