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.
Skinny young man
With born again eyes
And a Jesus tattoo on his arm
Leans on the wall
While the traffic goes by
The gas-mart at Fairview and Farm
A rap song pounds
From an '83 Caddy
While he waits on a payphone to ring
Been standing around since a quarter past nine
Still hasn't heard a thing.
24 hours a day
24 hours a day
Sign says we're open the man says you pay
24 hours a day.
Backed up on Farm
Carhorns are screaming
Cause some guy's Suburban is stalled.
He guesses her daddy
Must be back home
Otherwise she'd have called
He thinks to himself
I guess I can't blame him
It wasn't so smart what we did
A uniformed cop gets in line with his coffee
Some women yells at her kid.
24 hours a day
24 hours a day
Sign says we're open the man says you pay
24 hours a day.
(harmonica solo)
Carload of drunks
Pulls up in a hurry
For a six-pack before its too late.
He starts to dial
To leave one more message
Stops and decides just to wait.
Could have been different
And maybe it couldn't
With some things it's too late to learn.
Fumes from the gasoline hang in the air
World just continues to turn.
24 hours a day
24 hours a day
Sign says we're open the man says you pay
24 hours a day.
The skinny young man
With born again eyes
And a Jesus tattoo on his arm
Leans on the wall
While the traffic goes by
A gas-mart at Fairview and Farm
Hmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm.
With born again eyes
And a Jesus tattoo on his arm
Leans on the wall
While the traffic goes by
The gas-mart at Fairview and Farm
A rap song pounds
From an '83 Caddy
While he waits on a payphone to ring
Been standing around since a quarter past nine
Still hasn't heard a thing.
24 hours a day
24 hours a day
Sign says we're open the man says you pay
24 hours a day.
Backed up on Farm
Carhorns are screaming
Cause some guy's Suburban is stalled.
He guesses her daddy
Must be back home
Otherwise she'd have called
He thinks to himself
I guess I can't blame him
It wasn't so smart what we did
A uniformed cop gets in line with his coffee
Some women yells at her kid.
24 hours a day
24 hours a day
Sign says we're open the man says you pay
24 hours a day.
(harmonica solo)
Carload of drunks
Pulls up in a hurry
For a six-pack before its too late.
He starts to dial
To leave one more message
Stops and decides just to wait.
Could have been different
And maybe it couldn't
With some things it's too late to learn.
Fumes from the gasoline hang in the air
World just continues to turn.
24 hours a day
24 hours a day
Sign says we're open the man says you pay
24 hours a day.
The skinny young man
With born again eyes
And a Jesus tattoo on his arm
Leans on the wall
While the traffic goes by
A gas-mart at Fairview and Farm
Hmmm hmmm hmmm hmmm.
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
24 Hours a Day Lyrics as written by Todd Snider Kent Finlay
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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