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.
Uh
Yeah
Hello
hey
I be high
When I split a dutch and fill it up
I be high
When I get my money doubled up
I be high
When a model wanna let me cut
I be high
When I'm shinin' cause my diamonds blush
I be low
When a nigga can't get away
I be low
When I can't seem to make a way
I be low
When I can't even feed myself
I be low
When I realize I'm by myself
But I be high
When I'm shopping for expensive clothes
I be high
When I get what I couldn't before
I be high
In the club while I'm poppin bub
I be high
When I'm cruisin, sittin' on them dubs
But I be low
At the shows in my dressing room
I be low
When I see that I'm a different dude
I be low
On the plane looking at the sky
I be low
But my highs keep the rhythm tight
I be high
Then I be low
I be low
Then I be high
It's like a battle knife to a gun fight
But I be cool
This the story of my life
I be high
Then I be low
I be low
Then I be high
It's like a battle knife to a gun fight
No need to worry
This the story of my life
I be low
When I gotta get ready for work
I be low
Cause after bills my pockets be hurt
I be low
When I can't take a girl out
I be low
Cause they can't even figure me out
But I be high
When the phony chicks show me love
Cause in my mind I read em' but don't give a fuck
I be high
When a nigga get attention
I be high
When ya girl catch feelings
Then I be low
When I go into the empty space
I be low
When I'm lookin' at a stressed face
I be low
Cause my brother face through hard time
I be low
With my nigga' ridin close behind
Then I'm high
When I know the places we can go
I be high
When I think of what the future hold
I be high
When she ask for my room number
I be high
But my lows keep a nigga' humble
I be high
Then I be low
I be low
Then I be high
It's like a battle knife to a gun fight
But I be cool
This the story of my life
I be high
Then I be low
I be low
Then I be high
It's like a battle knife to a gun fight
But I be cool
This the story of my life
I was high
When the label said that I was dope
I was high
In my eyes cause I had hope
I was high
When I first had the taste of love
I was high
When I left the city I was from
And I was low
When I had a recent heartbreak
I was low
Cause I truly thought I had a mate
I was low
When I lost her over silliness
I was low
Cause she twisted what my words meant
But I was high
When I finally had the chance to see
Everything that's pretty ain't always good for me
I was high
When she first said I like you
Man I must be too high to even write, dude
And these things show you growth
Some niggas show a little
But I'll show you the most
Highs and lows
and succeed for sho
The only thing left to do is say a toast
Cause...
I be high
Then I be low
I be low
Then I be high
It's like a battle knife to a gun fight
But I be cool
This the story of my life
I be high
Then I be low
I be low
Then I be high
It's like a battle knife to a gun fight
But I be cool
That's the story of my life
Now won't you please save Scotty, Lord?
Help me, please
Help me, please
Now won't you please save Scotty, Lord?
Wont you please save Scotty?
Help me, please
Yeah
Hello
hey
I be high
When I split a dutch and fill it up
I be high
When I get my money doubled up
I be high
When a model wanna let me cut
I be high
When I'm shinin' cause my diamonds blush
I be low
When a nigga can't get away
I be low
When I can't seem to make a way
I be low
When I can't even feed myself
I be low
When I realize I'm by myself
But I be high
When I'm shopping for expensive clothes
I be high
When I get what I couldn't before
I be high
In the club while I'm poppin bub
I be high
When I'm cruisin, sittin' on them dubs
But I be low
At the shows in my dressing room
I be low
When I see that I'm a different dude
I be low
On the plane looking at the sky
I be low
But my highs keep the rhythm tight
I be high
Then I be low
I be low
Then I be high
It's like a battle knife to a gun fight
But I be cool
This the story of my life
I be high
Then I be low
I be low
Then I be high
It's like a battle knife to a gun fight
No need to worry
This the story of my life
I be low
When I gotta get ready for work
I be low
Cause after bills my pockets be hurt
I be low
When I can't take a girl out
I be low
Cause they can't even figure me out
But I be high
When the phony chicks show me love
Cause in my mind I read em' but don't give a fuck
I be high
When a nigga get attention
I be high
When ya girl catch feelings
Then I be low
When I go into the empty space
I be low
When I'm lookin' at a stressed face
I be low
Cause my brother face through hard time
I be low
With my nigga' ridin close behind
Then I'm high
When I know the places we can go
I be high
When I think of what the future hold
I be high
When she ask for my room number
I be high
But my lows keep a nigga' humble
I be high
Then I be low
I be low
Then I be high
It's like a battle knife to a gun fight
But I be cool
This the story of my life
I be high
Then I be low
I be low
Then I be high
It's like a battle knife to a gun fight
But I be cool
This the story of my life
I was high
When the label said that I was dope
I was high
In my eyes cause I had hope
I was high
When I first had the taste of love
I was high
When I left the city I was from
And I was low
When I had a recent heartbreak
I was low
Cause I truly thought I had a mate
I was low
When I lost her over silliness
I was low
Cause she twisted what my words meant
But I was high
When I finally had the chance to see
Everything that's pretty ain't always good for me
I was high
When she first said I like you
Man I must be too high to even write, dude
And these things show you growth
Some niggas show a little
But I'll show you the most
Highs and lows
and succeed for sho
The only thing left to do is say a toast
Cause...
I be high
Then I be low
I be low
Then I be high
It's like a battle knife to a gun fight
But I be cool
This the story of my life
I be high
Then I be low
I be low
Then I be high
It's like a battle knife to a gun fight
But I be cool
That's the story of my life
Now won't you please save Scotty, Lord?
Help me, please
Help me, please
Now won't you please save Scotty, Lord?
Wont you please save Scotty?
Help me, please
Lyrics submitted by kloo
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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where he came from was low and his life before he had a lot of emotional problems and stuff but then in his new life he is"high" in the sense that it is a great life, but then theres also those sections that mix i be high with i be low to show that even though he is the high life right now, theres always small doses of low that he sees in himself and around him