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 went back to the shore
For the crash of the waves
I love that sound and the curious comfort we found in each other
Just like we did back in the day
And the crackling clouds
Of a storm out at sea
And you broke me down just by leaning a little bit closer to me
And yet still somehow leaning away
Well, nobody told me
Just how badly I'd grieve
That I'd dig through my past
That I'd keep looking back
To find out who I wanted to be
Have I forgotten
How I let myself feel?
How the slightest inflections
Were like cuts that don't heal?
And don't be mistaken
That was true, I believe
I was something, I swear it
Before life got the better of me
I think I know how you felt
I didn't know how to leave
But looking back it was easy to think you'd be better off
But I shouldn't have left you that way
Without saying it right
Or even saying it wrong
I just moved on, ripped you out of my chest
And I picked up and left
And just like a ghost I was gone
Well, nobody told me
Come on, kid, take your time
Don't go rushing too fast
'Cause if you lose your path
It's gonna be so hard to find
Have I forgotten
How I let myself feel?
How the slightest inflections
Were like cuts that don't heal?
And don't be mistaken
That was true, I believe
I was something, I swear it
Before life got the better of me
Life is hard
Just a series of battle scars
From some fights we won
And some fights we lost
In a war that we never signed on for
We keep holding our heads high
Or hold each other and just cry
And nobody's wrong
And no lines are drawn
And everyone's here
And nobody's gone
I was something, I swear it
Before life got the better
Before life got the better
Before life got the better of me
For the crash of the waves
I love that sound and the curious comfort we found in each other
Just like we did back in the day
And the crackling clouds
Of a storm out at sea
And you broke me down just by leaning a little bit closer to me
And yet still somehow leaning away
Well, nobody told me
Just how badly I'd grieve
That I'd dig through my past
That I'd keep looking back
To find out who I wanted to be
Have I forgotten
How I let myself feel?
How the slightest inflections
Were like cuts that don't heal?
And don't be mistaken
That was true, I believe
I was something, I swear it
Before life got the better of me
I think I know how you felt
I didn't know how to leave
But looking back it was easy to think you'd be better off
But I shouldn't have left you that way
Without saying it right
Or even saying it wrong
I just moved on, ripped you out of my chest
And I picked up and left
And just like a ghost I was gone
Well, nobody told me
Come on, kid, take your time
Don't go rushing too fast
'Cause if you lose your path
It's gonna be so hard to find
Have I forgotten
How I let myself feel?
How the slightest inflections
Were like cuts that don't heal?
And don't be mistaken
That was true, I believe
I was something, I swear it
Before life got the better of me
Life is hard
Just a series of battle scars
From some fights we won
And some fights we lost
In a war that we never signed on for
We keep holding our heads high
Or hold each other and just cry
And nobody's wrong
And no lines are drawn
And everyone's here
And nobody's gone
I was something, I swear it
Before life got the better
Before life got the better
Before life got the better of me
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