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 kept a death grip on the armrest.
You slept as I swerved through bumps and dips.
You leapt at the chance to act alarmist.
You swept past my face like an eclipse.
You act like I'm your chum and I can treat you like my little sister.
But if you cover the sun with your thumb you should expect to get a fever blister.
And if the air is filled with a sickening hum,
Don't be upset or overcome.
Don't worry.
It's just the irony engine working.
You rose like a crane to the occasion.
You froze at the very implication.
You chose to divert the whole invasion.
By winking and shrugging and smiling and giving me an awkward seatbelt hug
Before you vanished in the chilly autumn.
I could feel the motor chug
Something tearing loose and striking bottom.
And if you still can't see how a three point plug
Could superheat on the lunar tug.
Don't worry.
It's just the irony engine working.
Yeah don't worry.
It's just the irony engine working.
You slept as I swerved through bumps and dips.
You leapt at the chance to act alarmist.
You swept past my face like an eclipse.
You act like I'm your chum and I can treat you like my little sister.
But if you cover the sun with your thumb you should expect to get a fever blister.
And if the air is filled with a sickening hum,
Don't be upset or overcome.
Don't worry.
It's just the irony engine working.
You rose like a crane to the occasion.
You froze at the very implication.
You chose to divert the whole invasion.
By winking and shrugging and smiling and giving me an awkward seatbelt hug
Before you vanished in the chilly autumn.
I could feel the motor chug
Something tearing loose and striking bottom.
And if you still can't see how a three point plug
Could superheat on the lunar tug.
Don't worry.
It's just the irony engine working.
Yeah don't worry.
It's just the irony engine working.
Lyrics submitted by goneinaminute
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There are a couple of lines I haven't completely figured out:
"You leapt at the chance to act alarmist You swept past my face like an eclipse." The second line there makes me think of the guy going for a kiss on the mouth and the girl diverting him and going for the cheek, but it's weird that that comes out so early in the song.
"And if you still can't see how a three point plug Could superheat on the lunar tug" I think this refers to a space tug, a sort of rocket vehicle that's used to bring equipment to orbiting stations, or to carry satellites in their orbits. Maybe the guy sees a romantic relationship with the girl as inevitable, he's been foreseeing it and studying with the same focus scientists use in building a spacecraft, so when a minor malfunction foils his plans he just can't believe it.