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.
I was a little boy of 9 years old
The whole world in my hands
Trying to toss that ball across the yard
A game of catch with my old man
He would always say I'm sorry
Every time he had to leave
And I was much too young to understand
When he would say to me
When you're young, you always think
The sun is gonna shine
There will come a day when you have to say hello to goodbye
Sit down son come take my hand
Look me in the eye
Take these words, promise me
You'll live before you die
I was barely seventeen, summer of seventy-nine
Already I was feeling like I was running out of time
I had this girl, we fell in love
Or should I say that she had me
That fateful night changed our lives
And made a memory
When you're young, you always think
The sun is gonna to shine
There will come a day when you have to say hello to goodbye
She laid me down, she took my hand
Looked me in the eye
And just before she kissed me she said
You gotta live before you die
Live before you die
You learn to love, to live
You fight and you forgive
You learn what's wrong and right
You live before you die
I've made mistakes, I've caught some breaks
But I got no regrets
There's some things I don't remember
But one thing I don't forget
When you're young, you always think
The sun is gonna shine
One day you're going to have to say hello to goodbye
Shout it out, let someone somewhere know you're alive
Take these words wear 'em well
Live before you die
Live before you die
Hey
Live before you die
You learn to love, to live
You fight and you forgive
You face the darkest night
Just live before you die
The whole world in my hands
Trying to toss that ball across the yard
A game of catch with my old man
He would always say I'm sorry
Every time he had to leave
And I was much too young to understand
When he would say to me
When you're young, you always think
The sun is gonna shine
There will come a day when you have to say hello to goodbye
Sit down son come take my hand
Look me in the eye
Take these words, promise me
You'll live before you die
I was barely seventeen, summer of seventy-nine
Already I was feeling like I was running out of time
I had this girl, we fell in love
Or should I say that she had me
That fateful night changed our lives
And made a memory
When you're young, you always think
The sun is gonna to shine
There will come a day when you have to say hello to goodbye
She laid me down, she took my hand
Looked me in the eye
And just before she kissed me she said
You gotta live before you die
Live before you die
You learn to love, to live
You fight and you forgive
You learn what's wrong and right
You live before you die
I've made mistakes, I've caught some breaks
But I got no regrets
There's some things I don't remember
But one thing I don't forget
When you're young, you always think
The sun is gonna shine
One day you're going to have to say hello to goodbye
Shout it out, let someone somewhere know you're alive
Take these words wear 'em well
Live before you die
Live before you die
Hey
Live before you die
You learn to love, to live
You fight and you forgive
You face the darkest night
Just live before you die
Lyrics submitted by aristuma21
Live Before You Die Lyrics as written by Jon Bon Jovi Richie Sambora
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I love this song! It's one of my favourite songs on the album!