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.
A cruisin' down Main Street in an '87 Chevrolet
A rollin' down 174 tryin' to find some more
I wish I had a little money I'd spend it all on you
I'd buy us a quarter bag and a 12-pack of brew
And we'll get high
And I drink
Well I'm tryin' not to think
And I get stoned
And I'm drunk
Well I'm tryin' to change my luck
Just gettin' by
Well I'm a gettin' by, gettin' high yeah
A walkin' down Brown's Mountain tryin' to find my way around
I hope I don't get stopped by the cops in this here town
We head on to the south side in the cemetery trails
A worn out fishin' hole where I raised a lot of hell
And I get high
And I drink
Well I'm tryin' not to think
And I get stoned
And I'm drunk
Well I'm tryin' to change my luck
Just gettin' by
Well I'm a gettin' by, gettin' high yeah
There's a girl that lives on my street
Strawberry blonde, she tastes so sweet
I want to tell her all the words of my heart
She moved away, then she tore my world apart
And I get high
And I drink
Well I'm tryin' not to think
And I get stoned
And I'm drunk
Well I'm tryin' to change my luck
Just gettin' by
Well I'm a gettin' by, gettin' high yeah
Fifteen minutes south of the Fort Worth city lights
We watch football games here on Friday nights
I grew up slow and now I'm livin' so fast
Runnin' out of liquor and this quarter bag won't last
'Cause I get high
And I drink
Well I'm tryin' not to think
And I get stoned
And I'm drunk
Well I'm tryin' to change my luck
Just gettin' by
Well I'm a gettin' by, gettin' high
Well I get high
And I drink
Well I'm tryin' not to think
And I get stoned
And I'm drunk
Well I'm tryin' to change my luck
Just gettin' by
Well I'm a gettin' by, gettin' high yeah
A rollin' down 174 tryin' to find some more
I wish I had a little money I'd spend it all on you
I'd buy us a quarter bag and a 12-pack of brew
And we'll get high
And I drink
Well I'm tryin' not to think
And I get stoned
And I'm drunk
Well I'm tryin' to change my luck
Just gettin' by
Well I'm a gettin' by, gettin' high yeah
A walkin' down Brown's Mountain tryin' to find my way around
I hope I don't get stopped by the cops in this here town
We head on to the south side in the cemetery trails
A worn out fishin' hole where I raised a lot of hell
And I get high
And I drink
Well I'm tryin' not to think
And I get stoned
And I'm drunk
Well I'm tryin' to change my luck
Just gettin' by
Well I'm a gettin' by, gettin' high yeah
There's a girl that lives on my street
Strawberry blonde, she tastes so sweet
I want to tell her all the words of my heart
She moved away, then she tore my world apart
And I get high
And I drink
Well I'm tryin' not to think
And I get stoned
And I'm drunk
Well I'm tryin' to change my luck
Just gettin' by
Well I'm a gettin' by, gettin' high yeah
Fifteen minutes south of the Fort Worth city lights
We watch football games here on Friday nights
I grew up slow and now I'm livin' so fast
Runnin' out of liquor and this quarter bag won't last
'Cause I get high
And I drink
Well I'm tryin' not to think
And I get stoned
And I'm drunk
Well I'm tryin' to change my luck
Just gettin' by
Well I'm a gettin' by, gettin' high
Well I get high
And I drink
Well I'm tryin' not to think
And I get stoned
And I'm drunk
Well I'm tryin' to change my luck
Just gettin' by
Well I'm a gettin' by, gettin' high yeah
Lyrics submitted by eric_005
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this is the only country band I actually like..
i dont like country but this band is legit i went and saw them play live they rock. this song high is one of my favorites