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.
Oi Oi Oi
Sometimes I look down; sometimes I look up
Sometimes I look down; sometimes I look up
Oi thats it
Oi Oi
I’m a fake
I don’t live the streets
But there’s only so many hours in a day and I use 'em to make beats
oi
In the studio
Emerging
Rehearsing
My technique
I live loops
Sleep snares
And breathe beats
Then sit through
Keep the best there
And only leave to eat
Shut the door
Penne nary record the vocal just once more
And now you know why these walls are the only walls i ever saw
Call me the quick "??", my “??”
oi
Kind of like a street score
Though, not the genuine article
More facts packed in a soundtrack to the anthem
In a film and I’m the lead
Believe me in a tragedy scene a tear ran down my cheeks
So que the fairytale finale
Listen to the dialogue
But not too deep
Soak up the feeling
But don't quote me please
Incidentally
Don’t worry about continuity
The person we hired to do that has been relieved of their duties
Also, in the first scene my jeans are green
But then they change mysteriously to cream
Again bad continuity
But I still mean what I mean
I wear Nike a lot
My hoodie's a tight Schott
But does my life sound as interesting as a fight in a chip shop?
I think not
The hype's not to be believed
I am not the archetypal street geez but i am right on being a beat-junkie
Oi
I gave up the fight for an easy life a long time ago
When the last bird dumped me
Buy me, get one studio free
I use words for effect to illustrate passion
Themes ring fact and specifics are usually fiction
Oi oi
I probably couldn't tell you half of what
"Has it come to this" means,
I was simply setting a scene
Of concrete
Not sky and green trees
I still hold the same hundred feet high dreams
But a lot of things scare me, though
I think I read somewhere recently that fear is a useless feeling because
I can't run to where I'm heading without running from where I was
It's all because
Where I'm from is not the issue
This is my imagination
I don’t sing the blues or feel fever
Which by definition aids broken through fever
It floats around places I’ve never even been to
So don't lean toward the door, up for
Just as the dance floor gets raw
Some of the things this tour makes out
I’d done been or did
Wasn’t mean I weren't the one
I’d only seen it
I was always too zoned-out on drum machine shit
To worry about the day to day out in the dosh pit
Oi Oi
Flip the 12"
This is the original mix
Called
Maybe my sarcastic brick twist daunting will be my downfall
Oi
Suddenly I’m defined by my lyrical
So I apologise for being so self-obsessed on this tune
Let’s get back to the story
Soon as
The streets;
The score;
Tell me what you think it is - 'cos I don't know anymore!
Sometimes I look down; sometimes I look up
Sometimes I look down; sometimes I look up
Oi thats it
Oi Oi
I’m a fake
I don’t live the streets
But there’s only so many hours in a day and I use 'em to make beats
oi
In the studio
Emerging
Rehearsing
My technique
I live loops
Sleep snares
And breathe beats
Then sit through
Keep the best there
And only leave to eat
Shut the door
Penne nary record the vocal just once more
And now you know why these walls are the only walls i ever saw
Call me the quick "??", my “??”
oi
Kind of like a street score
Though, not the genuine article
More facts packed in a soundtrack to the anthem
In a film and I’m the lead
Believe me in a tragedy scene a tear ran down my cheeks
So que the fairytale finale
Listen to the dialogue
But not too deep
Soak up the feeling
But don't quote me please
Incidentally
Don’t worry about continuity
The person we hired to do that has been relieved of their duties
Also, in the first scene my jeans are green
But then they change mysteriously to cream
Again bad continuity
But I still mean what I mean
I wear Nike a lot
My hoodie's a tight Schott
But does my life sound as interesting as a fight in a chip shop?
I think not
The hype's not to be believed
I am not the archetypal street geez but i am right on being a beat-junkie
Oi
I gave up the fight for an easy life a long time ago
When the last bird dumped me
Buy me, get one studio free
I use words for effect to illustrate passion
Themes ring fact and specifics are usually fiction
Oi oi
I probably couldn't tell you half of what
"Has it come to this" means,
I was simply setting a scene
Of concrete
Not sky and green trees
I still hold the same hundred feet high dreams
But a lot of things scare me, though
I think I read somewhere recently that fear is a useless feeling because
I can't run to where I'm heading without running from where I was
It's all because
Where I'm from is not the issue
This is my imagination
I don’t sing the blues or feel fever
Which by definition aids broken through fever
It floats around places I’ve never even been to
So don't lean toward the door, up for
Just as the dance floor gets raw
Some of the things this tour makes out
I’d done been or did
Wasn’t mean I weren't the one
I’d only seen it
I was always too zoned-out on drum machine shit
To worry about the day to day out in the dosh pit
Oi Oi
Flip the 12"
This is the original mix
Called
Maybe my sarcastic brick twist daunting will be my downfall
Oi
Suddenly I’m defined by my lyrical
So I apologise for being so self-obsessed on this tune
Let’s get back to the story
Soon as
The streets;
The score;
Tell me what you think it is - 'cos I don't know anymore!
Lyrics submitted by skibbepluginbaby
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"my sarcastic brick twist daunting" ought to be "my sarcastic Brit twist on t'ing"
The first set of ??s at the end of the first verse should be "call me The Quick Draw McGraw Show". I don't know what he says after that.
"Penne nary record" should be "pent and re-record"
"Call me the Quick Draw McGraw show, but on Logic Audio" (music program)
"aids broken through fever" should be "ain't spoken truth either"
"up for" should be "at four" (ie. 4AM)