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.
Well, your skeletons in the closet are introducing themselves
The knick-knacks wisecrack there on the shelf
You told him that you loved him, but he's hissin' at you
What else is new, what else is new, what else is new
Cause your old man's a counterfeit, your daughter's a lush
It's you and Mickey Spillane, and the lady's in a hush(?)
Someone's stealin' your heart, someone's stealin' your car
What else is new
Well now, your creditors hate you, and so do your kids
Your footballin' sweetheart is down on the skids
And now the parks are full of fugitives, the trees are on fire
What else is new, what else is new
Now you see, the cigarette machines are busted, you can't get no change
And somebody cancels everything you arrange
For every invitation gets your RSVP
What else is new, what else is new, what else is new, what else is new
Well now, the rockin' chair's busted, your ashtrays are full
Your evenings and your afternoons are usually dull
So you toast to the Toastmaster toaster and you
What else is new, what else is new, what else is new, what else is new
You gotta tell me, what else is new
What else is new
What else is new, what else is new, what else is new
What else is new
The knick-knacks wisecrack there on the shelf
You told him that you loved him, but he's hissin' at you
What else is new, what else is new, what else is new
Cause your old man's a counterfeit, your daughter's a lush
It's you and Mickey Spillane, and the lady's in a hush(?)
Someone's stealin' your heart, someone's stealin' your car
What else is new
Well now, your creditors hate you, and so do your kids
Your footballin' sweetheart is down on the skids
And now the parks are full of fugitives, the trees are on fire
What else is new, what else is new
Now you see, the cigarette machines are busted, you can't get no change
And somebody cancels everything you arrange
For every invitation gets your RSVP
What else is new, what else is new, what else is new, what else is new
Well now, the rockin' chair's busted, your ashtrays are full
Your evenings and your afternoons are usually dull
So you toast to the Toastmaster toaster and you
What else is new, what else is new, what else is new, what else is new
You gotta tell me, what else is new
What else is new
What else is new, what else is new, what else is new
What else is new
Lyrics submitted by ecorchee1
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