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 we had to grab on something
So we're pulling at the threads
And now the world's unraveling
Inside our very heads
Glasses smeared with lipstick
Hungry eyes out in the street
Same old bodies moving
To the same old beat
Had to draw the line
All this talk can hypnotize you and
We can ill afford
To give ourselves to sentiment
When our time is oh so short
Names beneath the lichen
On these cemetery stones
And carnivals of silverfish
Waiting to dance upon our bones
Have to draw the line, have to draw the line
Have to draw the line, have to draw the line
I've been doubting yours baby
I've been doubting mine
I've been out of circulation
Where the sun don't shine
I've been doubting fame and wealth
Charity, even love itself
Draw the line
I ain't saying he's bad baby
I ain't saying he's good
Merely that he ain't so different
Neath his executioners hood
In the name of liberty
In the name of brotherhood
Have to draw the line
Have to draw the line
Need to take some pride baby
Need to take some heart
Need to take evasive action
When the rumpus start
Here we are buck naked baby
But where should we begin
When it's not the flesh we're after
But the howlin' ghost within
Have to draw the line
Need to draw the line
Had to draw the line
Need to draw the line
Have to draw the line
Pack your bags we're going home
Pack your bags we're going yeah
Had to draw the line
Pack your bags we're going home
Pack your bags we're going yeah
Help me draw the line
Pack your bags we'fre going home
So we're pulling at the threads
And now the world's unraveling
Inside our very heads
Glasses smeared with lipstick
Hungry eyes out in the street
Same old bodies moving
To the same old beat
Had to draw the line
All this talk can hypnotize you and
We can ill afford
To give ourselves to sentiment
When our time is oh so short
Names beneath the lichen
On these cemetery stones
And carnivals of silverfish
Waiting to dance upon our bones
Have to draw the line, have to draw the line
Have to draw the line, have to draw the line
I've been doubting yours baby
I've been doubting mine
I've been out of circulation
Where the sun don't shine
I've been doubting fame and wealth
Charity, even love itself
Draw the line
I ain't saying he's bad baby
I ain't saying he's good
Merely that he ain't so different
Neath his executioners hood
In the name of liberty
In the name of brotherhood
Have to draw the line
Have to draw the line
Need to take some pride baby
Need to take some heart
Need to take evasive action
When the rumpus start
Here we are buck naked baby
But where should we begin
When it's not the flesh we're after
But the howlin' ghost within
Have to draw the line
Need to draw the line
Had to draw the line
Need to draw the line
Have to draw the line
Pack your bags we're going home
Pack your bags we're going yeah
Had to draw the line
Pack your bags we're going home
Pack your bags we're going yeah
Help me draw the line
Pack your bags we'fre going home
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According to an interview that David Gray did with an online newspaper, "Draw the Line" is "about staying alive, to not be curbed by what you have to wade through day in and day out. "Draw the Line" is about escape..."
davidgray.com/about/press/press.aspx