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.
Verse One – Pressure
In life, we struggle as individuals,
A fine line between a cliché saying and something original,
As if in death we left something residual,
Behind to mark our time up in this pitiful,
Existence and I'm a man of many issues,
If I ever dissed you, no disrespect I never wished to,
Hold a grudge the stress makes me act like this,
The day I get it off my chest I won't write tracks like this,
But I'll be bitter on them when all is done and is forgotten,
Cos it's easier to sit and complain than fix the problem,
But the power of speech empowers our beliefs,
With sour defeats, man nothing is out of reach,
Got plenty to answer for, all I do is answered back,
Done a thousand things I regret, apologize for none of that,
So you get back what you put in no regret,
And keep on until they know your sweat, you only get.
Chorus
One chance, so I live for the moment,
I'm just one man what I wouldn't give for this moment,
We got one world; still we take it in stride,
In this one life we stand still waiting to die,
We Get one chance, so I live for the moment,
I'm just one man what I wouldn't give for this moment,
We got one world; still we take it in stride,
In this one life we stand still waiting to die.
Now breathe in
Verse 2 – Pressure
Now if life is what you make it it's time to build,
Man I'm for real aint no telling what this life will yield,
I'm a career man, cos I career off any path,
That would lead me to a start of financial gains I'm scarred,
We learn from our mistakes, that makes me a scholar on,
Being a walking talking fuck up and a better man for being wrong,
I'm humble and loyal, my friendships are honored,
A mans success aint measured by the depths of his pocket,
I give good advice but never follow it, what's left for me?
I'm a hypocrite and if I weren't I'd be a success story,
View this wide world through a narrow gaze, these harrowed days,
Seen to many men end in a shallow grave,
I guess it's better to have loved and to lost, than never stumbled across,
The gift of knowing you what ever the fucking cost,
To put it in perspective and under my vision,
This world is superficial; I'm done with others opinions.
Chorus
One chance, so I live for the moment,
I'm just one man what I wouldn't give for this moment,
We got one world; still we take it in stride,
In this one life we stand still waiting to die,
We get one chance, so I live for the moment,
I'm just one man what I wouldn't give for this moment,
We got one world; still we take it in stride,
In this one life we stand still waiting to die.
Now breathe out.
In life, we struggle as individuals,
A fine line between a cliché saying and something original,
As if in death we left something residual,
Behind to mark our time up in this pitiful,
Existence and I'm a man of many issues,
If I ever dissed you, no disrespect I never wished to,
Hold a grudge the stress makes me act like this,
The day I get it off my chest I won't write tracks like this,
But I'll be bitter on them when all is done and is forgotten,
Cos it's easier to sit and complain than fix the problem,
But the power of speech empowers our beliefs,
With sour defeats, man nothing is out of reach,
Got plenty to answer for, all I do is answered back,
Done a thousand things I regret, apologize for none of that,
So you get back what you put in no regret,
And keep on until they know your sweat, you only get.
Chorus
One chance, so I live for the moment,
I'm just one man what I wouldn't give for this moment,
We got one world; still we take it in stride,
In this one life we stand still waiting to die,
We Get one chance, so I live for the moment,
I'm just one man what I wouldn't give for this moment,
We got one world; still we take it in stride,
In this one life we stand still waiting to die.
Now breathe in
Verse 2 – Pressure
Now if life is what you make it it's time to build,
Man I'm for real aint no telling what this life will yield,
I'm a career man, cos I career off any path,
That would lead me to a start of financial gains I'm scarred,
We learn from our mistakes, that makes me a scholar on,
Being a walking talking fuck up and a better man for being wrong,
I'm humble and loyal, my friendships are honored,
A mans success aint measured by the depths of his pocket,
I give good advice but never follow it, what's left for me?
I'm a hypocrite and if I weren't I'd be a success story,
View this wide world through a narrow gaze, these harrowed days,
Seen to many men end in a shallow grave,
I guess it's better to have loved and to lost, than never stumbled across,
The gift of knowing you what ever the fucking cost,
To put it in perspective and under my vision,
This world is superficial; I'm done with others opinions.
Chorus
One chance, so I live for the moment,
I'm just one man what I wouldn't give for this moment,
We got one world; still we take it in stride,
In this one life we stand still waiting to die,
We get one chance, so I live for the moment,
I'm just one man what I wouldn't give for this moment,
We got one world; still we take it in stride,
In this one life we stand still waiting to die.
Now breathe out.
Lyrics submitted by Matty
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I really haven't heard any of the restrung versions, but how are they different from the originals? The lyrics are pretty much the same i think.