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.
Mama, you're on my mind
A stitch upon my coda
Play on the world's grand design
I think you know
I think you're sure that you know that
Butterflies don't get old
And I don't get so young anymore
What a shame
The big ideas
And lost ideals, it's a show
I must appear in control
Mama
Mama
The show at all
They're burning books outside of
What was it that you said?
And to the walls
Let the spirit gather up and
Set us a flame for
Year to year, there's no one here but us
What I'm ask
The ears to the ground and the fingers on the pulse of the pain
Oh it's worse than change
Oh what do they want with us
Oh mama
Mama
What is it that they want with us and all of our abuse
Oh what's the use to protect
Mama, is only you
You're a dancer from the mirrors of
Lie and with restraint
This quiet warmth
I've got my faith restored by the sway of the trees
That sway in time to one more rhyme of my curse
But what it's worth
I count you out and still you count me in
To answer your final bell
Mama
Mama
But why do they care about us
Mama
Mama
They knock and knock
But I don't answer the door
Mama
Mama
Cuz I'm bored and we're not alone
A stitch upon my coda
Play on the world's grand design
I think you know
I think you're sure that you know that
Butterflies don't get old
And I don't get so young anymore
What a shame
The big ideas
And lost ideals, it's a show
I must appear in control
Mama
Mama
The show at all
They're burning books outside of
What was it that you said?
And to the walls
Let the spirit gather up and
Set us a flame for
Year to year, there's no one here but us
What I'm ask
The ears to the ground and the fingers on the pulse of the pain
Oh it's worse than change
Oh what do they want with us
Oh mama
Mama
What is it that they want with us and all of our abuse
Oh what's the use to protect
Mama, is only you
You're a dancer from the mirrors of
Lie and with restraint
This quiet warmth
I've got my faith restored by the sway of the trees
That sway in time to one more rhyme of my curse
But what it's worth
I count you out and still you count me in
To answer your final bell
Mama
Mama
But why do they care about us
Mama
Mama
They knock and knock
But I don't answer the door
Mama
Mama
Cuz I'm bored and we're not alone
Lyrics submitted by chinosoma
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This is such an amazing song, it's a total shame no one has commented on it yet.
For me, this tune is super catchy for some reason, and it gets stuck in my head. Sadly, it's a depressing song for me. It's how innocent the lyrics Billy came up with are. I really hope if American Gothic gets a reissue, the Residency songs are released, in studio quality, on the second disc.
Now, since I first heard this song in eighth grade, it reminds me of two girls who went to my middle school. The first one is just randomly symbolic of this girl who was new to my school in eighth grade. The second girl was someone who I had feelings for in seventh grade, but them dropped them out of total embarrassment. I still had classes with her, however. So, this just lead to me imagining her and my friend in Texas sitting in some rural home. However, my Texan friend is older than her, so it doesn't make total sense.
Since I have time, I'll give an elaboration into this second girl and the Texan friend idea. Since they both look like, my brain decides, "BOOM! mother and son," despite him being younger. However, my brain irons this out as, "she's just grown old, and that's why he's taller". Anyway, I can just imagine my Texan friend is visiting this girl (the girl who I had a crush on in 7th btw) who lives out in some rural region. The tone is innocent because the two had a fight or something, and he's visiting her just to visit her. Childhood memories flood back to him, and that's also why the song has an innocent tone. While he's discontent with her (lyrics), she was also still his mother for all those years (the upbeat tone of the song).