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.
Blood shot eyes in the morning
Wake to the day with a memory in my mind
The plane touches down and I can see those street lights
Plane touches down and I know it's time to fly
One thing I can't leave behind
One thing I can't leave behind
One thing I can't leave behind
Gets so cold here in the evening
Wait til the dark that I build my firelight
Feel such a fool to just keep waiting
Feel such a fool cause I know I still hope to find
One thing I can't leave behind
One thing I can't leave behind
One thing I can't leave
But I want you to take your time and think it over
Stay a while until you're sure
You're not taking the easy way out
Star-crossed nights in the canyon
Everybody fighting just to hold their place in line
They come from all the farthest reaches
Everybody looking for something I hope they find
One thing they can't leave behind
One thing they can't leave
Eyes fall open with the first light
Make my way down to the ocean burning blue
Each day I'm cast a little farther
Each day the current pulls me closer down to you
One thing I can't leave behind
One thing I can't leave behind
One thing I can't leave behind
One thing I can't leave
But I want you to take your time and think it over
Stay a while until you're sure
Just remember to take your time and think it over
Stay a while until you're sure
You're not taking the easy way out
I can show you the easy way down
Blood shot eyes in the morning
Wake to the day with a memory in my mind
Wake to the day with a memory in my mind
The plane touches down and I can see those street lights
Plane touches down and I know it's time to fly
One thing I can't leave behind
One thing I can't leave behind
One thing I can't leave behind
Gets so cold here in the evening
Wait til the dark that I build my firelight
Feel such a fool to just keep waiting
Feel such a fool cause I know I still hope to find
One thing I can't leave behind
One thing I can't leave behind
One thing I can't leave
But I want you to take your time and think it over
Stay a while until you're sure
You're not taking the easy way out
Star-crossed nights in the canyon
Everybody fighting just to hold their place in line
They come from all the farthest reaches
Everybody looking for something I hope they find
One thing they can't leave behind
One thing they can't leave
Eyes fall open with the first light
Make my way down to the ocean burning blue
Each day I'm cast a little farther
Each day the current pulls me closer down to you
One thing I can't leave behind
One thing I can't leave behind
One thing I can't leave behind
One thing I can't leave
But I want you to take your time and think it over
Stay a while until you're sure
Just remember to take your time and think it over
Stay a while until you're sure
You're not taking the easy way out
I can show you the easy way down
Blood shot eyes in the morning
Wake to the day with a memory in my mind
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This is such a good song, I can't believe no one commented on this yet..
This is actually an Elyse Weinberg song from 1968. Evey song on that Vetiver album is a cover song; hence the title 'Thing Of The Past'. <br /> <br /> youtube.com/watch<br /> <br /> -Mike