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.
Closing in on empty spaces
Winners laugh too soon
A paper world with paper faces
Beneath a paper moon
Well, there's a man, a real pace setter
Coming after me
And after him there's someone better
And after him there's me
Well he'll offer you a cigarette
He'll offer you a light
Oh but he hasn't finished with you yet
On another long knife night
Look behind you, there's the man you're chasing
Look behing you, let's go Human Racing
Human Racing
Oh let's go racing now
Open arms and open purses
Open season's here!
Well they fill your head with clever verses
And then they disappear
Silent vows in secret places
They'll get you somehow
'Cause you never win with the Human Races
So who's the loser now?
Look behind you, there's the man you're chasing
Look behind you, let's go Human Racing
Human Racing
Let's go racing now
Oh
Around and around we go
Human Racing now, oh
After him, after him
Around and around we go
Let's go Racing now
Winners laugh too soon
A paper world with paper faces
Beneath a paper moon
Well, there's a man, a real pace setter
Coming after me
And after him there's someone better
And after him there's me
Well he'll offer you a cigarette
He'll offer you a light
Oh but he hasn't finished with you yet
On another long knife night
Look behind you, there's the man you're chasing
Look behing you, let's go Human Racing
Human Racing
Oh let's go racing now
Open arms and open purses
Open season's here!
Well they fill your head with clever verses
And then they disappear
Silent vows in secret places
They'll get you somehow
'Cause you never win with the Human Races
So who's the loser now?
Look behind you, there's the man you're chasing
Look behind you, let's go Human Racing
Human Racing
Let's go racing now
Oh
Around and around we go
Human Racing now, oh
After him, after him
Around and around we go
Let's go Racing now
Lyrics submitted by honestfi
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