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.
His photograph was taken in 1980
In New York on a subway train
He emerges days later
The sun in his eyes
And its started all over again
Its spread through the city like a hand made virus
And catches a glimpse of their eyes
The beggars and bangers and fly boys and hookers
All haggled together inside
He's either dead or in serious trouble
He's either dead or in serious trouble
Trimly reminded and partially blinded
Surviving on minimum sleep
The scars down his face
And a stone in the place
Where his heart would previously beat
Travelling even faster in the wake of disaster
And preaching an... ??? bleak
Escaping and hiding and simply survivng
Lay down in a pool next to me
He's either dead or in serious trouble
He's either dead or in serious trouble
His photograph was taken in 1980
In New York on a subway train
They... ???
Started all over again
He's either dead or in serious trouble
He's either dead or in serious trouble
He's either dead or in serious trouble
He's either dead or in serious trouble
He's either dead or in serious trouble
He's either dead or in serious trouble
In New York on a subway train
He emerges days later
The sun in his eyes
And its started all over again
Its spread through the city like a hand made virus
And catches a glimpse of their eyes
The beggars and bangers and fly boys and hookers
All haggled together inside
He's either dead or in serious trouble
He's either dead or in serious trouble
Trimly reminded and partially blinded
Surviving on minimum sleep
The scars down his face
And a stone in the place
Where his heart would previously beat
Travelling even faster in the wake of disaster
And preaching an... ??? bleak
Escaping and hiding and simply survivng
Lay down in a pool next to me
He's either dead or in serious trouble
He's either dead or in serious trouble
His photograph was taken in 1980
In New York on a subway train
They... ???
Started all over again
He's either dead or in serious trouble
He's either dead or in serious trouble
He's either dead or in serious trouble
He's either dead or in serious trouble
He's either dead or in serious trouble
He's either dead or in serious trouble
Lyrics submitted by Soilydude, edited by BobTheRhino
Dead or in Serious Trouble Lyrics as written by Charles Richard Wilson Andrew White
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Great song. I really don't know what it means, but I love the line "Then he hit self-destruct with a battering ram".
The actual lyrics (based on the album's lyric booklet) are:
His photograph was taken in 1980 In New York on a subway train He emerges days later The sun in his eyes And its started all over again Its spread through the city like a hand-made virus And catches a glimpse of their lives The beggars and bankers and fly boys and hookers All hang on together inside
He's either dead or in serious trouble He's either dead or in serious trouble
Criminally minded and partially blinded Surviving on minimum sleep There's scars down his face And a stone in the place Where his heart would previously beat Travelling even faster in the wake of disaster And reaching at you from the bleak Escaping and hiding or simply surviving Way down in the fluorescent deep
He's either dead or in serious trouble He's either dead or in serious trouble
His photograph was taken in 1980 In New York on a subway train Then he hit self-destruct with a battering ram And it started all over again
He's either dead or in serious trouble He's either dead or in serious trouble He's either dead or in serious trouble He's either dead or in serious trouble He's either dead or in serious trouble He's either dead or in serious trouble