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.
Don't need a generation
Of burning on the ledge.
Don't need your ancient wisdom;
Two things I'll live without!
Relax,
(As children rest.)
Patience, people,
There's no need to react
So desperately tonight.
(You don't need to know the things I know.)
In fact,
(As children rest.)
All of you
Will be sleeping
With honesty intact.
(Our innocence intact.)
So just give up tonight.
(If I knew then what I know now, I'd stay six-years-old!)
If you lost everything in a moment,
Would you notice?
Could you rebuild something so hopeless?
Are you hopeless?
And when you wake alone, with no one left to hold,
You won't need to know all the things I know.
Paradise in every swimming pool!
Paradise in every playground slide!
Paradise, fresh baked in a cookie jar!
If I were you,
I would defend my innocence
Vigilantly!
I would fight all that tried to rob me of that,
'Cause there's some things you just don't need to know!
Tragedy in the dentist's office!
Tragedy in every skinned knee!
Tragedy spilled all over the kitchen floor!
Of burning on the ledge.
Don't need your ancient wisdom;
Two things I'll live without!
Relax,
(As children rest.)
Patience, people,
There's no need to react
So desperately tonight.
(You don't need to know the things I know.)
In fact,
(As children rest.)
All of you
Will be sleeping
With honesty intact.
(Our innocence intact.)
So just give up tonight.
(If I knew then what I know now, I'd stay six-years-old!)
If you lost everything in a moment,
Would you notice?
Could you rebuild something so hopeless?
Are you hopeless?
And when you wake alone, with no one left to hold,
You won't need to know all the things I know.
Paradise in every swimming pool!
Paradise in every playground slide!
Paradise, fresh baked in a cookie jar!
If I were you,
I would defend my innocence
Vigilantly!
I would fight all that tried to rob me of that,
'Cause there's some things you just don't need to know!
Tragedy in the dentist's office!
Tragedy in every skinned knee!
Tragedy spilled all over the kitchen floor!
Lyrics submitted by iamthenightstars, edited by CAKunited
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spot on Noiz3... killer song too