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.
no one knows where the lone wolf sleeps
no one sees the hidden treasure in the castle keep
no one learns the secret name
no one burns in the absent flame
no one broke d.b. cooper’s fall
no one hopes to hear the bag man call
children piping in the main square
but no one’s dancing
no one’s dancing down there
the river goes where the water flows
but no one knows when the batcave closed
the river goes where the water flows
but no one knows when the batcave closed
no promise sweeter than a blood pact
nothing harder to go through with than a vanishing act
no morning colder than the first frost
no friends closer than the ones we’ve lost
nothing sharper than a serpent’s tooth
nothing harder than the gospel truth
though you repent and don sackcloth and try to make nice
you can’t cross the same river twice
the river goes where the water flows
but no one knows when the batcave closed
the river goes where the water flows
but no one knows when the batcave closed
there’s a club where you’d like to go
you could meet someone who’s lost like you
revel in the darkness like a pair of open graves
fumble through the fog for a season or two
no town more barren than our town
no haven safer than the one they tore down
no greater love than to lay my life down for a friend
no sweeter pleasure than to see the credits clear through to the end
no one knows where the lone wolf’s gone
no one sees him camped out right there on the front lawn
we played for you but you would not sing
no one was gonna get away with anything
the river goes where the water flows
but no one knows when the batcave closed
the river goes where the water flows
but no one knows when the batcave closed
no one sees the hidden treasure in the castle keep
no one learns the secret name
no one burns in the absent flame
no one broke d.b. cooper’s fall
no one hopes to hear the bag man call
children piping in the main square
but no one’s dancing
no one’s dancing down there
the river goes where the water flows
but no one knows when the batcave closed
the river goes where the water flows
but no one knows when the batcave closed
no promise sweeter than a blood pact
nothing harder to go through with than a vanishing act
no morning colder than the first frost
no friends closer than the ones we’ve lost
nothing sharper than a serpent’s tooth
nothing harder than the gospel truth
though you repent and don sackcloth and try to make nice
you can’t cross the same river twice
the river goes where the water flows
but no one knows when the batcave closed
the river goes where the water flows
but no one knows when the batcave closed
there’s a club where you’d like to go
you could meet someone who’s lost like you
revel in the darkness like a pair of open graves
fumble through the fog for a season or two
no town more barren than our town
no haven safer than the one they tore down
no greater love than to lay my life down for a friend
no sweeter pleasure than to see the credits clear through to the end
no one knows where the lone wolf’s gone
no one sees him camped out right there on the front lawn
we played for you but you would not sing
no one was gonna get away with anything
the river goes where the water flows
but no one knows when the batcave closed
the river goes where the water flows
but no one knows when the batcave closed
Lyrics submitted by ameboid
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