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.
Sky black and blue
Blue turned to red
It's quiet in the streets now
It's screaming in your head
I ain't a fool
I've got my doubts
Say it doesn't hurt
Doesn't matter anyhow
Anyhow
[Chorus]
Saying hey you're bleeding for nothing
It's hard to breathe when you're standing on your own
We'll kill ourself to find freedom
You'll kill yourself to find anything at all
So lock all the doors
And put your child to rest
It's quiet in the streets now
It's screaming in your head
We're passing the time
We're breaking apart
We're damned at the end
We're damned at the start
Blame it on the roses
Blame it on the red
Running out of time
Running out of breath
[Chorus]
You'll kill yourself to find anything
You say good-bye
Every day and night
With writing on the walls
Everybody's gonna need somebody
To take our troubles, and our worries, and our problems all away
[Chorus]
You'll kill yourself to find anything at all
[Chorus]
You'll kill yourself before
You'll kill yourself again
Hey now, hey now, hey now
Right now
Hey now, hey now, hey now
Right now
Hey now, hey now, hey now
Right now
Hey now, hey now
Blue turned to red
It's quiet in the streets now
It's screaming in your head
I ain't a fool
I've got my doubts
Say it doesn't hurt
Doesn't matter anyhow
Anyhow
[Chorus]
Saying hey you're bleeding for nothing
It's hard to breathe when you're standing on your own
We'll kill ourself to find freedom
You'll kill yourself to find anything at all
So lock all the doors
And put your child to rest
It's quiet in the streets now
It's screaming in your head
We're passing the time
We're breaking apart
We're damned at the end
We're damned at the start
Blame it on the roses
Blame it on the red
Running out of time
Running out of breath
[Chorus]
You'll kill yourself to find anything
You say good-bye
Every day and night
With writing on the walls
Everybody's gonna need somebody
To take our troubles, and our worries, and our problems all away
[Chorus]
You'll kill yourself to find anything at all
[Chorus]
You'll kill yourself before
You'll kill yourself again
Hey now, hey now, hey now
Right now
Hey now, hey now, hey now
Right now
Hey now, hey now, hey now
Right now
Hey now, hey now
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"it's hard to breathe when you're standing on your own"
so true...