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.
Say you don't love me
Say you don't want me anymore
Tell me it's over
It's over
I'll open my bottle
And no, I ain't opening this door
Death one it gets colder
So just say it's over
'Cause my pocket's broke
My soul is stone
I ruined you again
And a lonely bridge
A rooftop ledge
Could just fix everything
But when I'm alone on the longest nights
I think of you and your Marlboro lights
And I, I get a bit better
And I lie here on the bedroom floor
Where your feet walked out and your daggers fall
And I, I get a little bit better
Say you'll forget me
Say you'll erase me from your mind
Right from the day of our doomed beauty
I saw my future in your eyes
Save the words you've rehearsed
We both know I won't be fine
You know the fate don't take my bribes
And I only want what's never mine
So you break the door, you break my heart
You ruined me again
And the passing trucks
And loaded guns
Never could fix anything
But when I'm alone on the longest nights
I think of you and your Marlboro lights
And I, I get a bit better
And I lie here on the bedroom floor
Where your feet walked out and your daggers fall
And I, I get a bit better
When love is made so renegade
You know you're going down in flames
And if our hearts must share a grave
At least can we be friends
You shoot your words,
They knock me down
Like rubber bullets raining out...
They bounce right off and I got up again
But if no one understands me
At least you could pretend
I never knew when love was true
But I know it's the end
But I'll be here 'til chaos calls
And God ain't listening anymore
'Cause I, I know that we could be better
And I'll stay here
To defy our fears
Even though I know it'll end in tears
'Cause I, I know that we could be better
When I'm alone on the longest nights
I think of you and your Marlboro lights
And I, I couldn't be better
Say you don't want me anymore
Tell me it's over
It's over
I'll open my bottle
And no, I ain't opening this door
Death one it gets colder
So just say it's over
'Cause my pocket's broke
My soul is stone
I ruined you again
And a lonely bridge
A rooftop ledge
Could just fix everything
But when I'm alone on the longest nights
I think of you and your Marlboro lights
And I, I get a bit better
And I lie here on the bedroom floor
Where your feet walked out and your daggers fall
And I, I get a little bit better
Say you'll forget me
Say you'll erase me from your mind
Right from the day of our doomed beauty
I saw my future in your eyes
Save the words you've rehearsed
We both know I won't be fine
You know the fate don't take my bribes
And I only want what's never mine
So you break the door, you break my heart
You ruined me again
And the passing trucks
And loaded guns
Never could fix anything
But when I'm alone on the longest nights
I think of you and your Marlboro lights
And I, I get a bit better
And I lie here on the bedroom floor
Where your feet walked out and your daggers fall
And I, I get a bit better
When love is made so renegade
You know you're going down in flames
And if our hearts must share a grave
At least can we be friends
You shoot your words,
They knock me down
Like rubber bullets raining out...
They bounce right off and I got up again
But if no one understands me
At least you could pretend
I never knew when love was true
But I know it's the end
But I'll be here 'til chaos calls
And God ain't listening anymore
'Cause I, I know that we could be better
And I'll stay here
To defy our fears
Even though I know it'll end in tears
'Cause I, I know that we could be better
When I'm alone on the longest nights
I think of you and your Marlboro lights
And I, I couldn't be better
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