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.
Take my mother, my sister, my brother
& my first born son
Ne'er do wells, everyone
There's a fracture in the fabric of the family's old scotch pine
But it will heal if given time
I for one am a believer in the nod & shake
We'll get on, it's never too late
It's a part of your cult that I might keep for myself
Turn the other cheek (that's nice)
But not that bit about your Hell
Because my blood's too rich for subway cars
& I'm too poor for a cab
I'm too old for the girl I love but she doesn't know it yet
When I die I will leave no shadows of regret
I'm too tired to make amends that cannot go unsaid.
& my first born son
Ne'er do wells, everyone
There's a fracture in the fabric of the family's old scotch pine
But it will heal if given time
I for one am a believer in the nod & shake
We'll get on, it's never too late
It's a part of your cult that I might keep for myself
Turn the other cheek (that's nice)
But not that bit about your Hell
Because my blood's too rich for subway cars
& I'm too poor for a cab
I'm too old for the girl I love but she doesn't know it yet
When I die I will leave no shadows of regret
I'm too tired to make amends that cannot go unsaid.
Lyrics submitted by johnfen
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I love the second verse. About taking the good parts of religion, because you aren't religious yourself, and ignoring the rest.
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