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.
We first moved to the USA all the way from Canada
Drove across the continent from Nova Scotia to Pasadena
My sister and me, and my mom and dad
From the cull to the sunny south
There were palm trees growing and it was not snowing
And I never did shut my mouth
We drove on over to the courthouse in downtown Los Angeles
We put our hands on a bible and we swore as a family that we were not communists
When we drove away, I started to cry
They said, “What’s wrong son, are you sick?”
I said, “I don’t wanna be an American; I wanna be a Catholic”
We talked Hollywood, and baseball in the car
The voice of Vin Scully; It would travel really far…
I made my first communion in St Rita’s Catholic Church
There was incense choking and a priest was smoking; was a choir up in the perch
My face got red, and my stomach felt bad
They said, “if you’re gonna get sick, use a cup”
Well I thought by the time that it was my turn Jesus would be all eaten up
We talked Hollywood, and baseball in the car
The voice of Ernie Harwell; It would travel really far…
My allergies were bad so we moved to the desert to a city called Palm Springs
We trick-or-treated at Liberace’s house; each finger had a diamond ring
We met Elvis Presley in the middle of the summer; he hugged my sister for far too long…
Well, it felt kinda weird, but I woulda pimped her out just to hear him sing a song
We talked Hollywood, and baseball in the car
The voice of Jack Buck; It would travel really far…
Now, here I am, a grown up boy at home on the Fourth of July
Staring out at the ocean and the fireworks in the sky
I miss my friends who aren’t around; the ones who passed away…
Well, I’m feeling kind of grateful here on Independence Day
We talk Hollywood, and baseball in the car
The voice of Jerry Coleman; It would travel really far…
I get allergies
And asthma in the yard
And no one ever told me
Growing up would be so hard…
Drove across the continent from Nova Scotia to Pasadena
My sister and me, and my mom and dad
From the cull to the sunny south
There were palm trees growing and it was not snowing
And I never did shut my mouth
We drove on over to the courthouse in downtown Los Angeles
We put our hands on a bible and we swore as a family that we were not communists
When we drove away, I started to cry
They said, “What’s wrong son, are you sick?”
I said, “I don’t wanna be an American; I wanna be a Catholic”
We talked Hollywood, and baseball in the car
The voice of Vin Scully; It would travel really far…
I made my first communion in St Rita’s Catholic Church
There was incense choking and a priest was smoking; was a choir up in the perch
My face got red, and my stomach felt bad
They said, “if you’re gonna get sick, use a cup”
Well I thought by the time that it was my turn Jesus would be all eaten up
We talked Hollywood, and baseball in the car
The voice of Ernie Harwell; It would travel really far…
My allergies were bad so we moved to the desert to a city called Palm Springs
We trick-or-treated at Liberace’s house; each finger had a diamond ring
We met Elvis Presley in the middle of the summer; he hugged my sister for far too long…
Well, it felt kinda weird, but I woulda pimped her out just to hear him sing a song
We talked Hollywood, and baseball in the car
The voice of Jack Buck; It would travel really far…
Now, here I am, a grown up boy at home on the Fourth of July
Staring out at the ocean and the fireworks in the sky
I miss my friends who aren’t around; the ones who passed away…
Well, I’m feeling kind of grateful here on Independence Day
We talk Hollywood, and baseball in the car
The voice of Jerry Coleman; It would travel really far…
I get allergies
And asthma in the yard
And no one ever told me
Growing up would be so hard…
Lyrics submitted by blinxbcr
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
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.