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.
You built it up brick by brick
Put your heart into this baseless myth
Nurtured it like a child
And dressed its wounds when it ran wild
You stopped to fix your face
Someone else stepped in and took your place
Now everything you once knew
Is running circles around you
A car door slamming in your road
It jolts you like a kick inside
A year old message on your phone
That catches you when you can't hide
I see you in the service station sign
I see you in the supermarket line
I see you silhouetted on a wall
But I don't see myself there at all
This vessel of Balsa wood
Is the fag end tail of amoeba-hood
The busying cast confer
And get their taste of the drama
You stare through mindless daytime shows
And curse yourself for growing old
The sterile scent of shaving foam
Reminds you of another world
I see you in the roofless sombre sky
I see you when the lovers stop outside
I see you silhouetted on a wall
But I don't see myself there at all
I see you in the sweetness of our child
I see you in the supermarket aisle
I see you when I'm kneeling on the floor
But I can't see myself anymore
Hard times got the upper hand
Stole our feeble plans
The faces, shot me, spin me round
But I won't lie down
Hard times shake me to the bone
Face bruised, bloody nose
Shell shocked, crawling on the ground
Still I won't lie down
No I won't lie down
No I won't lie down
I won't lie down
Put your heart into this baseless myth
Nurtured it like a child
And dressed its wounds when it ran wild
You stopped to fix your face
Someone else stepped in and took your place
Now everything you once knew
Is running circles around you
A car door slamming in your road
It jolts you like a kick inside
A year old message on your phone
That catches you when you can't hide
I see you in the service station sign
I see you in the supermarket line
I see you silhouetted on a wall
But I don't see myself there at all
This vessel of Balsa wood
Is the fag end tail of amoeba-hood
The busying cast confer
And get their taste of the drama
You stare through mindless daytime shows
And curse yourself for growing old
The sterile scent of shaving foam
Reminds you of another world
I see you in the roofless sombre sky
I see you when the lovers stop outside
I see you silhouetted on a wall
But I don't see myself there at all
I see you in the sweetness of our child
I see you in the supermarket aisle
I see you when I'm kneeling on the floor
But I can't see myself anymore
Hard times got the upper hand
Stole our feeble plans
The faces, shot me, spin me round
But I won't lie down
Hard times shake me to the bone
Face bruised, bloody nose
Shell shocked, crawling on the ground
Still I won't lie down
No I won't lie down
No I won't lie down
I won't lie down
Lyrics submitted by wahh17, edited by Stevelloyd77
Myth Lyrics as written by Richard David Hughes Jesse Quin
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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