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.
I think I'll go sit by the river
Just to get away for a while
Light jumping off of the water
And time in a line is swirling and swimming
Clouds rolling over themselves
Twisting and boiling and growing out of nothing
The hills bitten off at the edge
And the whispers and the tails running 'round
Running, running 'round
I think I'll go sit by the river
Just to get away for a while
And listen to the conversations
Eavesdropping on the whiskeyjacks and the waxwings
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle mask
Sunken to the rocks, plastic face half-buried
The stone bottom bumps out a rhythm
It sings the same song that it's always been singing
I think I'll go sit by the river
Just to get outside of my mind
I'm wishing I could stay here forever
But the river won't stay that long
It's moving on
I'm a shopping cart stuck on an island
Stranded in the middle getting tired and thirsty
Not really moving, just waiting
For this water to rise up again
And pull me along
Just to get away for a while
Light jumping off of the water
And time in a line is swirling and swimming
Clouds rolling over themselves
Twisting and boiling and growing out of nothing
The hills bitten off at the edge
And the whispers and the tails running 'round
Running, running 'round
I think I'll go sit by the river
Just to get away for a while
And listen to the conversations
Eavesdropping on the whiskeyjacks and the waxwings
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle mask
Sunken to the rocks, plastic face half-buried
The stone bottom bumps out a rhythm
It sings the same song that it's always been singing
I think I'll go sit by the river
Just to get outside of my mind
I'm wishing I could stay here forever
But the river won't stay that long
It's moving on
I'm a shopping cart stuck on an island
Stranded in the middle getting tired and thirsty
Not really moving, just waiting
For this water to rise up again
And pull me along
Lyrics submitted by naturalkinds
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Ahhhh getting high at the river....