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.
It was a beautiful letdown
When I crashed and burned
When I found myself alone
Unknown and hurt
It was a beautiful letdown
The day I knew
All the riches this world had to offer me
Would never do
In a world full of bitter pain and bitter doubts
I was trying so hard to fit in, fit in 'til I found out
I don't belong here (I don't belong)
I don't belong here (I don't belong)
I will carry a cross and a song, where I don't belong (I don't belong)
I don't belong here
It was a beautiful letdown when You found me here
Yeah, for once in a rare blue moon
I see everything clear
I'll be a beautiful letdown
That's what I'll forever be
And though it may cost my soul
I'll sing for free, yeah
We're still chasing our tails and the rising sun
And our dark water planet's still spinning in a race where no one wins
No one's won
See, I don't belong here (I don't belong)
I don't belong here (I don't belong)
I will carry a cross, a song where I don't belong (I don't belong)
I don't belong here (I don't belong)
I don't belong here (I don't belong)
I don't belong
I'm gonna set sight and set sail for the Kingdom come
Kingdom come, Your Kingdom come (I don't belong)
Won't you let me down? Yeah (I don't belong)
Let my foolish pride forever let me down
Ah, easy living, You're not much like Your name
Easy dying, hey, You look just about the same
Would you please take me off Your list?
Easy living, please come on and let me down
We are a beautiful letdown
Painfully uncool
The church of the dropouts
The losers, the sinners, the failures and the fools
Oh, what a beautiful letdown
Are we salt in the wound?
Hey, let us sing one true tune, yeah
I don't belong here (I don't belong)
No, I don't belong here (I don't belong here)
I don't belong here (I don't belong) (hey)
Feels like I don't belong here (I don't belong)
Yeah, I don't belong here (I don't belong)
Feels like I don't belong here (I don't belong here)
I don't belong (I don't belong)
(I don't belong)
Would you let me down? (I don't belong)
Come on and let me down (I don't belong)
You always let me down (I don't belong)
So glad that I'll act now (I don't belong)
Yeah (I don't belong)
Come on and let me down (I don't belong)
'Cause I don't belong here
Please, won't You let me down?
When I crashed and burned
When I found myself alone
Unknown and hurt
It was a beautiful letdown
The day I knew
All the riches this world had to offer me
Would never do
In a world full of bitter pain and bitter doubts
I was trying so hard to fit in, fit in 'til I found out
I don't belong here (I don't belong)
I don't belong here (I don't belong)
I will carry a cross and a song, where I don't belong (I don't belong)
I don't belong here
It was a beautiful letdown when You found me here
Yeah, for once in a rare blue moon
I see everything clear
I'll be a beautiful letdown
That's what I'll forever be
And though it may cost my soul
I'll sing for free, yeah
We're still chasing our tails and the rising sun
And our dark water planet's still spinning in a race where no one wins
No one's won
See, I don't belong here (I don't belong)
I don't belong here (I don't belong)
I will carry a cross, a song where I don't belong (I don't belong)
I don't belong here (I don't belong)
I don't belong here (I don't belong)
I don't belong
I'm gonna set sight and set sail for the Kingdom come
Kingdom come, Your Kingdom come (I don't belong)
Won't you let me down? Yeah (I don't belong)
Let my foolish pride forever let me down
Ah, easy living, You're not much like Your name
Easy dying, hey, You look just about the same
Would you please take me off Your list?
Easy living, please come on and let me down
We are a beautiful letdown
Painfully uncool
The church of the dropouts
The losers, the sinners, the failures and the fools
Oh, what a beautiful letdown
Are we salt in the wound?
Hey, let us sing one true tune, yeah
I don't belong here (I don't belong)
No, I don't belong here (I don't belong here)
I don't belong here (I don't belong) (hey)
Feels like I don't belong here (I don't belong)
Yeah, I don't belong here (I don't belong)
Feels like I don't belong here (I don't belong here)
I don't belong (I don't belong)
(I don't belong)
Would you let me down? (I don't belong)
Come on and let me down (I don't belong)
You always let me down (I don't belong)
So glad that I'll act now (I don't belong)
Yeah (I don't belong)
Come on and let me down (I don't belong)
'Cause I don't belong here
Please, won't You let me down?
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