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 stood in line and left my name
Took about six hours or so
Well, the man just grinned like it was all a game
Said they'd let me know
I put in my time 'till the Pocono line
Shut down two years ago
I was staying at the mission till I met Marie
Now I can't stay there no more
'Fella 'cross town said he's lookin' for a man
To move some old cars around
Maybe me and Marie could find a burned-out van
Do a little settlin' down
Aw, but I'm just dreamin', I ain't got no ride
And the junkyard's a pretty good ways
That job's about a half week old besides
It'd be gone now anyway
Unemployment said I got no more checks
And they showed me to the hall
My brother died in Georgia some time ago
I got no one left to call
Summer wasn't bad below the bridge
A little short on food that's all
Now I gotta get Marie some kind of coat
We're headed down into fall
I used to play the mouth harp pretty good
Hustled up a little dough
but I got drunk and I woke up rolled
A couple of months ago
They got my harp and they got my dollar
Them low life so-and-sos
Harps cost money and I ain't got it
It's my own fault I suppose
Well the Pocono's down but the Chesapeake's runnin'
Two freights everyday
If it was just me I'd be headed south
But Marie can't catch no train
She's got some pain and she thinks it's a baby,
Says we gotta wait and see
In my heart I know it's a little boy
Hope he don't end up like me
Well, the man's still grinnin' says he lost my file
I gotta stand in line again
I want to kill him but I just say, "no,
I had enough of that line my friend"
I head back to the bridge, its getting kinda cold
I'm feelin' too low down to lie
I guess I'll just tell Marie the truth
Hope she don't break down and cry
Marie, she didn't wake up this morning
She didn't even try
She just rolled over and went to heaven
My little boy safe inside
I laid 'em in the sun where somebody'd find 'em
caught a Chesapeake on the fly
Marie will know I'm headed south
So's to meet me by and by
Aw, Marie will know I'm headed south
so to meet me by and by
Took about six hours or so
Well, the man just grinned like it was all a game
Said they'd let me know
I put in my time 'till the Pocono line
Shut down two years ago
I was staying at the mission till I met Marie
Now I can't stay there no more
'Fella 'cross town said he's lookin' for a man
To move some old cars around
Maybe me and Marie could find a burned-out van
Do a little settlin' down
Aw, but I'm just dreamin', I ain't got no ride
And the junkyard's a pretty good ways
That job's about a half week old besides
It'd be gone now anyway
Unemployment said I got no more checks
And they showed me to the hall
My brother died in Georgia some time ago
I got no one left to call
Summer wasn't bad below the bridge
A little short on food that's all
Now I gotta get Marie some kind of coat
We're headed down into fall
I used to play the mouth harp pretty good
Hustled up a little dough
but I got drunk and I woke up rolled
A couple of months ago
They got my harp and they got my dollar
Them low life so-and-sos
Harps cost money and I ain't got it
It's my own fault I suppose
Well the Pocono's down but the Chesapeake's runnin'
Two freights everyday
If it was just me I'd be headed south
But Marie can't catch no train
She's got some pain and she thinks it's a baby,
Says we gotta wait and see
In my heart I know it's a little boy
Hope he don't end up like me
Well, the man's still grinnin' says he lost my file
I gotta stand in line again
I want to kill him but I just say, "no,
I had enough of that line my friend"
I head back to the bridge, its getting kinda cold
I'm feelin' too low down to lie
I guess I'll just tell Marie the truth
Hope she don't break down and cry
Marie, she didn't wake up this morning
She didn't even try
She just rolled over and went to heaven
My little boy safe inside
I laid 'em in the sun where somebody'd find 'em
caught a Chesapeake on the fly
Marie will know I'm headed south
So's to meet me by and by
Aw, Marie will know I'm headed south
so to meet me by and by
Lyrics submitted by penexpers
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