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.
England is ill and it is not alone
I heard it through the tinny speakers on a cameraphone
The things you hear and the things you see
Are amplified into a ca-ca-cacophony
The lost identity in my dream before
I ride the local train, I'm not above the law
Serendipity puts away with me
Houdini couldn't escape from me
I wouldn't bet my life (He wouldn't bet his life)
Maybe things will change tomorrow
I wouldn't bet my life (You would be mad to try)
Maybe things will change tomorrow
The daily grind, the moral wealth
A potrait of the national health
England is sick and I'm a casualty
I'm in a constant state of flux in terms of what to be
We generalise and we live inside
I feel we're heading for a ca-ca-catastrophe
The lost identity in my dream before
I ride the local train, I'm not above the law
Serendipity took ahold of me
Fellini couldn't have dreamt of this
I wouldn't bet my life (He wouldn't bet his life)
Maybe things will change tomorrow
I wouldn't bet my life (You would be mad to try)
Maybe things will change tomorrow
The daily grind, the moral wealth
The family binds by means of stealth
A portrait of the national health
Did you hear? (You what?)
I went down to the council today (What did they say?)
They sent me away (No way!)
My word holds no sway (Who's to blame?)
You are... (Oh yeah?)
I guess I couldn't be tamed
The daily grind, the moral wealth
The family binds by means of stealth
A portrait of the national health!
I heard it through the tinny speakers on a cameraphone
The things you hear and the things you see
Are amplified into a ca-ca-cacophony
The lost identity in my dream before
I ride the local train, I'm not above the law
Serendipity puts away with me
Houdini couldn't escape from me
I wouldn't bet my life (He wouldn't bet his life)
Maybe things will change tomorrow
I wouldn't bet my life (You would be mad to try)
Maybe things will change tomorrow
The daily grind, the moral wealth
A potrait of the national health
England is sick and I'm a casualty
I'm in a constant state of flux in terms of what to be
We generalise and we live inside
I feel we're heading for a ca-ca-catastrophe
The lost identity in my dream before
I ride the local train, I'm not above the law
Serendipity took ahold of me
Fellini couldn't have dreamt of this
I wouldn't bet my life (He wouldn't bet his life)
Maybe things will change tomorrow
I wouldn't bet my life (You would be mad to try)
Maybe things will change tomorrow
The daily grind, the moral wealth
The family binds by means of stealth
A portrait of the national health
Did you hear? (You what?)
I went down to the council today (What did they say?)
They sent me away (No way!)
My word holds no sway (Who's to blame?)
You are... (Oh yeah?)
I guess I couldn't be tamed
The daily grind, the moral wealth
The family binds by means of stealth
A portrait of the national health!
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Just figured out some more of this after I posted it...