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.
sleeping late i hear the sad horns
of labor truck sigh
my neighbor walks by
high heels click dry
like half a proud horse downbrook
i hear somebody's babbling i mistook
for a cavalry whispering victory
to the sparks in their kindling
but but all their green wood's wet and unmet
as of yet by the gases of flame
pressing again the pending physics
of my passed down last name
living in the tear between two spaces condemned
in one of the many places
you're not i am
hiding from my friends in the bathroom at thrift town
to write this tune down.
(just doesn't stop)
today after lunch i got sick and blew chunks
all over my new shoes in the lot behind whole foods
this is a new kind of blues and what about losing
limb or loved one in a duel dissatisfies you or seems just
as a kid i did not shit my pants much,
why start now with this stuff
and man i do not bluff
second caller gets bit by a dog or jeff dahmer
kisses or stitches no mitt for these pitches
lone pone one master of the cheap pun,
if i'm not raw i'm just a bit underdone
but i'd be okay cool as a rail
if they'd just let us have health food in hell
good heavens background radiation
and the black arts of waiting
not the same since i
switched my hair part and started shaving
got hexed my hidden hair gone corners
oh i'll never be a joiner
life long local foreigner i
raw lung homegrown fake in co-ed naked choir
second tenor highest riser blessed clever compromiser
i'll be proudly mouthing watermelon every song
i put the phone to my ear
but all's i hears a dial tone
will they map my skull and wrap my bones
when my wig is gone hmmm
i'll go unknown by torpedo or crohns
only those evil live to see
their own likeness in stone
my brother said that
i can decide
while i'm alive i'll feel alive
and what's next
i guess i'll know when i've gotten there
of labor truck sigh
my neighbor walks by
high heels click dry
like half a proud horse downbrook
i hear somebody's babbling i mistook
for a cavalry whispering victory
to the sparks in their kindling
but but all their green wood's wet and unmet
as of yet by the gases of flame
pressing again the pending physics
of my passed down last name
living in the tear between two spaces condemned
in one of the many places
you're not i am
hiding from my friends in the bathroom at thrift town
to write this tune down.
(just doesn't stop)
today after lunch i got sick and blew chunks
all over my new shoes in the lot behind whole foods
this is a new kind of blues and what about losing
limb or loved one in a duel dissatisfies you or seems just
as a kid i did not shit my pants much,
why start now with this stuff
and man i do not bluff
second caller gets bit by a dog or jeff dahmer
kisses or stitches no mitt for these pitches
lone pone one master of the cheap pun,
if i'm not raw i'm just a bit underdone
but i'd be okay cool as a rail
if they'd just let us have health food in hell
good heavens background radiation
and the black arts of waiting
not the same since i
switched my hair part and started shaving
got hexed my hidden hair gone corners
oh i'll never be a joiner
life long local foreigner i
raw lung homegrown fake in co-ed naked choir
second tenor highest riser blessed clever compromiser
i'll be proudly mouthing watermelon every song
i put the phone to my ear
but all's i hears a dial tone
will they map my skull and wrap my bones
when my wig is gone hmmm
i'll go unknown by torpedo or crohns
only those evil live to see
their own likeness in stone
my brother said that
i can decide
while i'm alive i'll feel alive
and what's next
i guess i'll know when i've gotten there
Lyrics submitted by oh ok
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