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.
The heart is beating
But the soul has died
The body's breathing
Beneath catatonic eyes
The blood is flowing
Set it free for tonight
I've lost my balance
But god knows I've tried
I don't wanna be here anymore in scarlet letters
Got to do, what once was me, once was yours, no more
An up hill battle
I fail to climb
Left it all now
And I don't mind
The train is broken
Consumed by the light
Farewell to you all
I'll be fine, goodbye
I don't wanna be here anymore in scarlet letters
Got to do, what once was me, once was yours, no more
I don't wanna be here anymore the scarlet letter
Turn into, a piece of me, the piece in you, no more
Do you believe in loss?
Do you believe in faith?
Do you believe in death?
Now that I'm a ghost
Forsaken me
Ashes to dust
Just let me lie
Lay me to rest
I've done my best
But lost my sight
Turning my back
Leave me alone
Let spirits rise
Knives in my back
All hope is lost
Say goodbye
I don't wanna be here anymore in scarlet letters
Got to do, what once was me, once was yours, no more
I don't want to be here anymore
I don't want to be here anymore in scarlet letters
Carved into
What once was me
Once was yours
No more
Turned into a piece of you no more
Now that I'm gone
But the soul has died
The body's breathing
Beneath catatonic eyes
The blood is flowing
Set it free for tonight
I've lost my balance
But god knows I've tried
I don't wanna be here anymore in scarlet letters
Got to do, what once was me, once was yours, no more
An up hill battle
I fail to climb
Left it all now
And I don't mind
The train is broken
Consumed by the light
Farewell to you all
I'll be fine, goodbye
I don't wanna be here anymore in scarlet letters
Got to do, what once was me, once was yours, no more
I don't wanna be here anymore the scarlet letter
Turn into, a piece of me, the piece in you, no more
Do you believe in loss?
Do you believe in faith?
Do you believe in death?
Now that I'm a ghost
Forsaken me
Ashes to dust
Just let me lie
Lay me to rest
I've done my best
But lost my sight
Turning my back
Leave me alone
Let spirits rise
Knives in my back
All hope is lost
Say goodbye
I don't wanna be here anymore in scarlet letters
Got to do, what once was me, once was yours, no more
I don't want to be here anymore
I don't want to be here anymore in scarlet letters
Carved into
What once was me
Once was yours
No more
Turned into a piece of you no more
Now that I'm gone
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I agree with wretchedremnantoflife. Of course, people get off on pretending they know what lyrics mean, when we're all just guessing. But what wretchedremnantoflife wrote jives with what I've always gotten from this song.