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.
Take the darkest of the darkest nights
Combine it with the brightest of the sun's bright rays
And you'll see what I see in my head
What I see every day
From the pit of despair
To the arch of euphoric transcendence
I'm the middle man monkey, the misery junkie
The cat walking barbed wire fences
I've been searching high and low
Up and down and carrying my heavy load
High and low and up and down and all around
Been trying to find the middle road
I been trying to find it
Whenever God shines his light
I put on my best sunglasses
Whatever truth that shines through, for a moment I view
But of course then the moment it passes
And I'm standing alone again
At the crossroads of my melodrama
With my heart in my hand, dumb and silent I stand
Like some dime store Dalai Lama
I been searching high and low...
Angel, devil, it's all the same
Each one knows me by name
Each one knows me, they all know me by name
Come the morning of my soul's dark night
When I've laid to rest these ghosts that haunt me
With sweet tenderness I will kiss your red lips
Not the past or the future shall daunt me
But that day ain't here just yet
So I'm stuck here on this roller coaster
With my hands in the air, on a wing and a prayer
Hoping it's taking me closer
I been searching high and low...
BILL DEASY: lead vocal, acoustic guitar
DAVE BROWN: electric guitar
ERIC RIEBLING: bass
RAY DEFADE: drums
JOHN BURGH: hammond b3, piano
Combine it with the brightest of the sun's bright rays
And you'll see what I see in my head
What I see every day
From the pit of despair
To the arch of euphoric transcendence
I'm the middle man monkey, the misery junkie
The cat walking barbed wire fences
I've been searching high and low
Up and down and carrying my heavy load
High and low and up and down and all around
Been trying to find the middle road
I been trying to find it
Whenever God shines his light
I put on my best sunglasses
Whatever truth that shines through, for a moment I view
But of course then the moment it passes
And I'm standing alone again
At the crossroads of my melodrama
With my heart in my hand, dumb and silent I stand
Like some dime store Dalai Lama
I been searching high and low...
Angel, devil, it's all the same
Each one knows me by name
Each one knows me, they all know me by name
Come the morning of my soul's dark night
When I've laid to rest these ghosts that haunt me
With sweet tenderness I will kiss your red lips
Not the past or the future shall daunt me
But that day ain't here just yet
So I'm stuck here on this roller coaster
With my hands in the air, on a wing and a prayer
Hoping it's taking me closer
I been searching high and low...
BILL DEASY: lead vocal, acoustic guitar
DAVE BROWN: electric guitar
ERIC RIEBLING: bass
RAY DEFADE: drums
JOHN BURGH: hammond b3, piano
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Middle Road Lyrics as written by William Paul Deasy
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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