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.
I am levitating somewhere down the road
With a price on my head and the shadow of a black crow
He’s been on my tail for close to three days
Just a little souvenir of my wicked ways
[Chorus]
I would rather die fast than to ever live slow
Father forgive me what my mother don’t know
The scratch marks on my soul
From the shadow of a black crow
I’ve got a box of reds and a bottle of the blues
Comes a time in your life honey you’ve gotta choose
My belly’s on fire from the acid of the truth
All the untold lies of my misspent youth
[Chorus]
It’s pretty when you’re young just a pity when you’re old, yeah
Am I running away or am I closer to home
The lines and the signs and the miles go by
No one ever bothered to even ask me why
So I am disappearing into this road
With a six pack of sorrow and the shadow of a black crow
I would rather die fast than to ever live slow
Father forgive me what my mother don’t know
The scratch marks on my soul
[Chorus]
With a price on my head and the shadow of a black crow
He’s been on my tail for close to three days
Just a little souvenir of my wicked ways
[Chorus]
I would rather die fast than to ever live slow
Father forgive me what my mother don’t know
The scratch marks on my soul
From the shadow of a black crow
I’ve got a box of reds and a bottle of the blues
Comes a time in your life honey you’ve gotta choose
My belly’s on fire from the acid of the truth
All the untold lies of my misspent youth
[Chorus]
It’s pretty when you’re young just a pity when you’re old, yeah
Am I running away or am I closer to home
The lines and the signs and the miles go by
No one ever bothered to even ask me why
So I am disappearing into this road
With a six pack of sorrow and the shadow of a black crow
I would rather die fast than to ever live slow
Father forgive me what my mother don’t know
The scratch marks on my soul
[Chorus]
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