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.
Fourteen years ago I was bitten' by a bastard snake.
I knew it was a bastard, cause the snake ain't got no dad.
The next thing I knew I was in a hollow world of trouble.
It was all about to bubble like peroxide on my wound.
The sun was hangin' low over magic city mountains.
I was lookin' for attention from any girl that was around them.
My show-off behavior fed my attraction towards danger.
I wasn't sure about the taste at first, but quickly liked the smell.
And I knew I did not have a clue
what I was getting myself in to,
And I didn't seem to care.
The next thing- I had new friends.
we had not so much in common,
but the problems that we shared, it seemed-
was good enough for me.
We wound up selling acid out the back of my Westfalia.
Me and my gang- we were a mutt compared to other gangs we dealt with.
The others seemed to dress the same and have some working order,
we were just some suburban losers, come from different TV colors.
Soon I saw a separately(?) busted by the police.
Yet, my youthful offender- it still fucks me up today.
And I know I should have never gone that way,
but I'm still tempted some days.
Well, it's better than being nowhere.
Take me out to wisdom fields of towers.(?)
Let me feel respect from those around me.
Help me not get fooled by those who charm me.
I don't want no false sense of security,
but I got nowhere else to go.
Only places that I'm known.
You run me off your safety zone,
you chase me out of your ghetto.
Well it seems I'm automatic, but I've always preferred a stick-shift.
If the brakes begin to fail, you can just shift it in first gear.
I'm not sure what all the others say, but every day's a new year.
I'm not sure what I'll do tomorrow, but I hope I get some pay.
All I know is it's hard for me to think,
and your words don't come out clear,
and it's hard for me to hear
livin' my life with a slow ear.
I knew it was a bastard, cause the snake ain't got no dad.
The next thing I knew I was in a hollow world of trouble.
It was all about to bubble like peroxide on my wound.
The sun was hangin' low over magic city mountains.
I was lookin' for attention from any girl that was around them.
My show-off behavior fed my attraction towards danger.
I wasn't sure about the taste at first, but quickly liked the smell.
And I knew I did not have a clue
what I was getting myself in to,
And I didn't seem to care.
The next thing- I had new friends.
we had not so much in common,
but the problems that we shared, it seemed-
was good enough for me.
We wound up selling acid out the back of my Westfalia.
Me and my gang- we were a mutt compared to other gangs we dealt with.
The others seemed to dress the same and have some working order,
we were just some suburban losers, come from different TV colors.
Soon I saw a separately(?) busted by the police.
Yet, my youthful offender- it still fucks me up today.
And I know I should have never gone that way,
but I'm still tempted some days.
Well, it's better than being nowhere.
Take me out to wisdom fields of towers.(?)
Let me feel respect from those around me.
Help me not get fooled by those who charm me.
I don't want no false sense of security,
but I got nowhere else to go.
Only places that I'm known.
You run me off your safety zone,
you chase me out of your ghetto.
Well it seems I'm automatic, but I've always preferred a stick-shift.
If the brakes begin to fail, you can just shift it in first gear.
I'm not sure what all the others say, but every day's a new year.
I'm not sure what I'll do tomorrow, but I hope I get some pay.
All I know is it's hard for me to think,
and your words don't come out clear,
and it's hard for me to hear
livin' my life with a slow ear.
Lyrics submitted by getoutofthepool
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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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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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