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.
We walked along the barren beach
I saw the trash but not the glass broken at my feet
Cut myself once again, gotta stop count to ten, try and relax
Take a breath, breath in deep, taste the smog, feel heat
I gotta get out
All the trash, broken glass, dirty air, no one cares
Help me out 'cause I think I'm choking
People choose what to do
Sippin' booze, sniffin' glue
Catch your breath
While you still have a chance
Self preservation's what it's all about
Suffocation kills without a doubt
So that people just can't stop
Wasting, trashing, using what we got
We're next in line and you can bet
When you grow old, put you in homes
A slow and lonely death
You won't forget the mess you left
Another unpaid debt and now you're choking
And now you're choking
And now is the time I tell myself
I'm just alive and I'll get by, without any help
So I say why should I sing the songs of rose
And the mess that we leave
Well in a month or a year maybe I'll have some kids
And they'll need to breath
All the trash, broken glass, dirty air, no one cares
Help me out 'cause I think I'm choking
People choose what to do
Sing the blues, you're on glue
Catch your breath
While you still have a chance
Self preservation's what it's all about
Suffocation kills without a doubt
I saw the trash but not the glass broken at my feet
Cut myself once again, gotta stop count to ten, try and relax
Take a breath, breath in deep, taste the smog, feel heat
I gotta get out
All the trash, broken glass, dirty air, no one cares
Help me out 'cause I think I'm choking
People choose what to do
Sippin' booze, sniffin' glue
Catch your breath
While you still have a chance
Self preservation's what it's all about
Suffocation kills without a doubt
So that people just can't stop
Wasting, trashing, using what we got
We're next in line and you can bet
When you grow old, put you in homes
A slow and lonely death
You won't forget the mess you left
Another unpaid debt and now you're choking
And now you're choking
And now is the time I tell myself
I'm just alive and I'll get by, without any help
So I say why should I sing the songs of rose
And the mess that we leave
Well in a month or a year maybe I'll have some kids
And they'll need to breath
All the trash, broken glass, dirty air, no one cares
Help me out 'cause I think I'm choking
People choose what to do
Sing the blues, you're on glue
Catch your breath
While you still have a chance
Self preservation's what it's all about
Suffocation kills without a doubt
Lyrics submitted by Cosbynaut
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