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.
Voted most likely to end up on the back OK a milk box drink
Looks like I'm letting them down
'Cause seven, seventy-five isn't worth and hour of my hard work and time
When you cant afford half the shit they advertise
Oh I'm worth more then they ask more then the two-tag generation full of regret
Oh I won't settle no, oh I can't settle
I wanna break the mold, I wanna break the stereotype
Fist in the air I'm not going down with out a fight
It's my life
And I'm sitting on the sidelines watching
It pass me by
I'm leaving you my legacy
I gotta make my mark
I gotta run it hard
I want you to remember me
I'm leaving my fingerprints
I'm leaving my fingerprints
I'm leaving my fingerprints on you
Representing you and me
Don't you wanna go down in history?
Rather then end up begging on the streets
Trading under table favors for a place to sleep
'Cause I'm worth more then this so stop writing prescriptions for my Ritalin
I can't focus my attention
I wanna break the mold, I wanna break the stereotype
Fist in the air I'm not going down with out a fight
It's my life
And I'm sitting on the sidelines watching
It pass me by
I'm leaving you my legacy
I gotta make my mark
I gotta run it hard
I want you to remember me
I'm leaving my fingerprints
I'm leaving my fingerprints
Don't give up
Don't give in
Because your arms on the rock
Oh I'm not innocent, innocent, innocent, innocent
Effortless and I'm sitting on the sidelines watching
It pass me by
I'm leaving you my legacy
I gotta make my mark
I gotta run it hard
I want you to remember me
(I want you to remember me)
Effortless and I'm sitting on the sidelines watching
It pass me by
I'm leaving you my legacy
I gotta make my mark
I gotta run it hard
I want you to remember me
'Cause I'm leaving my fingerprints
I'm leaving my fingerprints
I'm leaving my fingerprints, in the end
Looks like I'm letting them down
'Cause seven, seventy-five isn't worth and hour of my hard work and time
When you cant afford half the shit they advertise
Oh I'm worth more then they ask more then the two-tag generation full of regret
Oh I won't settle no, oh I can't settle
I wanna break the mold, I wanna break the stereotype
Fist in the air I'm not going down with out a fight
It's my life
And I'm sitting on the sidelines watching
It pass me by
I'm leaving you my legacy
I gotta make my mark
I gotta run it hard
I want you to remember me
I'm leaving my fingerprints
I'm leaving my fingerprints
I'm leaving my fingerprints on you
Representing you and me
Don't you wanna go down in history?
Rather then end up begging on the streets
Trading under table favors for a place to sleep
'Cause I'm worth more then this so stop writing prescriptions for my Ritalin
I can't focus my attention
I wanna break the mold, I wanna break the stereotype
Fist in the air I'm not going down with out a fight
It's my life
And I'm sitting on the sidelines watching
It pass me by
I'm leaving you my legacy
I gotta make my mark
I gotta run it hard
I want you to remember me
I'm leaving my fingerprints
I'm leaving my fingerprints
Don't give up
Don't give in
Because your arms on the rock
Oh I'm not innocent, innocent, innocent, innocent
Effortless and I'm sitting on the sidelines watching
It pass me by
I'm leaving you my legacy
I gotta make my mark
I gotta run it hard
I want you to remember me
(I want you to remember me)
Effortless and I'm sitting on the sidelines watching
It pass me by
I'm leaving you my legacy
I gotta make my mark
I gotta run it hard
I want you to remember me
'Cause I'm leaving my fingerprints
I'm leaving my fingerprints
I'm leaving my fingerprints, in the end
Lyrics submitted by SophieSomething
Fingerprints Lyrics as written by Katy Perry Greg Wells
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
This song is great! About how we're worth more than minimum wage, how LIFE is worth more! How we shouldn't settle and take what we can get; how we don't all need to be medicated and compartmentalized into little boxes... and how we're going to leave a change on the world 'in the end'.
Love it. You should too. =D