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.
There's a high flyin' bird way up in the sky
And I wonder if she looks down on me as she flies on by?
While she's riding so free and easy in the sky
But look at me here
Lord, I'm just rooted like a tree here
And I got the sit-down-can't fly, Oh Lord I'm gonna die blues
Well the sun comes along and it lights up the day
Well it brings the daytime and it goes on it's way
From the East to the West it travels every day
But look at me here
Lord, I'm just rooted like a tree here
And I got the sit-down-can't fly, Oh Lord I'm gonna die blues
Well I once knew a man
He worked down in the mine,
Well he never saw the sun and he never stopped crying
Then one day his woman up and died
She just upped and died
You know she just upped and dies
Well, she wanted to fly
The only way to fly was to die
There's a high flyin' bird way up in the sky
And I wonder if she looks down as she flies on by?
While she's riding so easy in the sky
(X2) But look at me here
Lord, I'm just rooted like a tree here
And I got the sit-down-can't fly, Oh Lord I'm gonna die blues
And I wonder if she looks down on me as she flies on by?
While she's riding so free and easy in the sky
But look at me here
Lord, I'm just rooted like a tree here
And I got the sit-down-can't fly, Oh Lord I'm gonna die blues
Well the sun comes along and it lights up the day
Well it brings the daytime and it goes on it's way
From the East to the West it travels every day
But look at me here
Lord, I'm just rooted like a tree here
And I got the sit-down-can't fly, Oh Lord I'm gonna die blues
Well I once knew a man
He worked down in the mine,
Well he never saw the sun and he never stopped crying
Then one day his woman up and died
She just upped and died
You know she just upped and dies
Well, she wanted to fly
The only way to fly was to die
There's a high flyin' bird way up in the sky
And I wonder if she looks down as she flies on by?
While she's riding so easy in the sky
(X2) But look at me here
Lord, I'm just rooted like a tree here
And I got the sit-down-can't fly, Oh Lord I'm gonna die blues
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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