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.
From small pins to fiery burns
These are the signals of my dying nerves
Singed by the heat of your lines and curves
Into a fire that could scorch the earth
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through 'em
But I can't remember how to feel
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not afraid to be bound to the impulses of science
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not ashamed to be owned by the impulses
From small shocks to surgin' bolts
These are the signals from my spinal post
Sent down the wires through their lines and folds
Into a riot on my frontal lobe
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through 'em
But I can't remember how to feel
Since I ran my hands over you
Nothing else will ever do now
To cool me down
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not afraid to be bound to the impulses of science
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not ashamed to be owned by the impulses
Since I ran my hands over you
Nothing else will ever do
Since I ran my hands over you
Nothing else will ever do
Since I ran my hands over you
Nothing else will ever do now
To cool me down
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not afraid to be bound to the impulses of science
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not ashamed to be owned by the impulses of science
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
I can't remember how to feel
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
Then I am not ashamed to be owned by the impulses of science
These are the signals of my dying nerves
Singed by the heat of your lines and curves
Into a fire that could scorch the earth
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through 'em
But I can't remember how to feel
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not afraid to be bound to the impulses of science
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not ashamed to be owned by the impulses
From small shocks to surgin' bolts
These are the signals from my spinal post
Sent down the wires through their lines and folds
Into a riot on my frontal lobe
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through the motions
I'm going through 'em
But I can't remember how to feel
Since I ran my hands over you
Nothing else will ever do now
To cool me down
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not afraid to be bound to the impulses of science
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not ashamed to be owned by the impulses
Since I ran my hands over you
Nothing else will ever do
Since I ran my hands over you
Nothing else will ever do
Since I ran my hands over you
Nothing else will ever do now
To cool me down
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not afraid to be bound to the impulses of science
If this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Oh if this is chemical
Then I am not ashamed to be owned by the impulses of science
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
I can't remember how to feel
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
If this is chemical
Then I am not ashamed to be owned by the impulses of science
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From small shocks to surgin' bolts These are the signals of my spinal pulse Sent down the wires through their lines and folds Into a light on my frontal lobe
This should be
From small shocks to surgin' bolts These are the signals from my spinal POST Sent down the wires through their lines and folds Into a RIOT on my frontal lobe