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.
On pins and needles we are waiting for the fall
We count the days scratching lines on the wall
Wait in the wings at someone's beck and call
No longer recognize the place that I call home
No longer recognize this face as my own
Somewhere this fate, I lost control
We backed down, we took no for answers far too long
We felt those walls close around
I don't want to be here anymore
I don't want to be here anymore
I don't want to be here anymore (be here anymore)
I know there's nothing left worth staying for
Your paradise is something I've endured, whoa whoa
See I don't think I can fight this anymore (fight this anymore)
I'm listening with one foot out the door
And something has to die to be reborn
And I don't want to be here anymore
On hand and foot we answered every single call
And weathered every day like passing storms
But when we break we will all be gone (we will all be gone)
Won't back down, won't take no for answers anymore (hey hey, hey hey)
These walls close, we pace back and forth
I don't want to be here anymore (be here anymore)
I know there's nothing left worth staying for
Your paradise is something I've endured, whoa whoa
See I don't think I can fight this anymore (fight this anymore)
I'm listening with one foot out the door
But something has to die to be reborn
I don't want to be here anymore
The point where we break is closer everyday
But where do we go? But where do we go?
I don't want to be here anymore
I don't want to be here anymore
I don't want to be here anymore (be here anymore)
I know there's nothing left worth staying for
Your paradise is something I've endured, whoa whoa
See I don't think I can fight this anymore (fight this anymore)
I'm listening with one foot out the door
But something has to die to be reborn
And I don't want to be here anymore
(We need a better way, we need to let go)
(We need a better way, we need to let go)
Anymore (we need a better way, we need to let go)
(We need a better way)
We count the days scratching lines on the wall
Wait in the wings at someone's beck and call
No longer recognize the place that I call home
No longer recognize this face as my own
Somewhere this fate, I lost control
We backed down, we took no for answers far too long
We felt those walls close around
I don't want to be here anymore
I don't want to be here anymore
I don't want to be here anymore (be here anymore)
I know there's nothing left worth staying for
Your paradise is something I've endured, whoa whoa
See I don't think I can fight this anymore (fight this anymore)
I'm listening with one foot out the door
And something has to die to be reborn
And I don't want to be here anymore
On hand and foot we answered every single call
And weathered every day like passing storms
But when we break we will all be gone (we will all be gone)
Won't back down, won't take no for answers anymore (hey hey, hey hey)
These walls close, we pace back and forth
I don't want to be here anymore (be here anymore)
I know there's nothing left worth staying for
Your paradise is something I've endured, whoa whoa
See I don't think I can fight this anymore (fight this anymore)
I'm listening with one foot out the door
But something has to die to be reborn
I don't want to be here anymore
The point where we break is closer everyday
But where do we go? But where do we go?
I don't want to be here anymore
I don't want to be here anymore
I don't want to be here anymore (be here anymore)
I know there's nothing left worth staying for
Your paradise is something I've endured, whoa whoa
See I don't think I can fight this anymore (fight this anymore)
I'm listening with one foot out the door
But something has to die to be reborn
And I don't want to be here anymore
(We need a better way, we need to let go)
(We need a better way, we need to let go)
Anymore (we need a better way, we need to let go)
(We need a better way)
Lyrics submitted by core7, edited by Peter01, Mellow_Harsher
I Don't Want To Be Here Anymore Lyrics as written by Joseph Principe Brandon Barnes
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I interpret this song to be about a metaphorical prison cell: "we count the days scratching lines on the wall" is something prisoners have been known to do to keep track of time, and this is supported by the mentions of "felt those walls close around" and "pace back and forth".
But i reckon it's more than just a Prison Cell, and its about being trapped somewhere you don't want to be - such as a relationship. A lot of the lyrics fit in with this, and the relationship gets closer to the "point where we break".