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 was conceived in a behavior station
Light years from civilization
I was born in oblivion
Half-Balinese, Half-Libyan
My father was a vector
My mother was a specter
As Earth men battled for their skins,
I come down with the aliens
Is this not the rat age?
The demented photo-stat age?
Where murderers loom
We've broken the genetic code
And left it bleeding by the road
Where murderers loom
You've changed your face, you've changed your scent
You've even changed your fingerprint
Image is anything
But with all this electricity you can't change your publicity
That lies the menacing
Down in the greed-plex under a spike of light
Stop at the slave port, enter the death resort
No stimulation, nothing but none of that
Resimulation, deep off but don't get caught
I dream to surf the rodeocean
Negotiate meaning with no emotion
If the kill is clean you've still got time
To hone evil on the tooth of crime
I'm sober on the grapes of wrath
While running down the psychopath
Is this not a cruel world?
Good morning, little schoolgirl
It's the rat age
Light years from civilization
I was born in oblivion
Half-Balinese, Half-Libyan
My father was a vector
My mother was a specter
As Earth men battled for their skins,
I come down with the aliens
Is this not the rat age?
The demented photo-stat age?
Where murderers loom
We've broken the genetic code
And left it bleeding by the road
Where murderers loom
You've changed your face, you've changed your scent
You've even changed your fingerprint
Image is anything
But with all this electricity you can't change your publicity
That lies the menacing
Down in the greed-plex under a spike of light
Stop at the slave port, enter the death resort
No stimulation, nothing but none of that
Resimulation, deep off but don't get caught
I dream to surf the rodeocean
Negotiate meaning with no emotion
If the kill is clean you've still got time
To hone evil on the tooth of crime
I'm sober on the grapes of wrath
While running down the psychopath
Is this not a cruel world?
Good morning, little schoolgirl
It's the rat age
Lyrics submitted by T_D_Phoenix
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.