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.
A cold and early dawn
For a man gone so wrong
Another lonely way of wasting time
So late into the night
It wasn't long ago I was counting my days
With anger and boredom and fear and pain
Back then I just wanted to even the score
The pain doesn't translate the same anymore
I'm not going back again
I'm not the man I was back then
I will start again
I will start again
I'm not going back my friend
I'm not the man I was back then
I couldn't slow it down I know I got mean
I couldn't feel a thing, they couldn't touch me
None of those young girls could understand
How slowly killing oneself takes
A toll on man
I'm not going back again
I'm not the man I was back then
I will start again
I will start again
I'm not going back my friend
I'm not the man I was back then
A cold and early dawn
For a man gone so wrong
Another lonely way of wasting time
So late into the night
I'm not going back again
I'm not the man I was back then
I'm not going back again
I'm not the man I was back then
I will start again
I will start again
For a man gone so wrong
Another lonely way of wasting time
So late into the night
It wasn't long ago I was counting my days
With anger and boredom and fear and pain
Back then I just wanted to even the score
The pain doesn't translate the same anymore
I'm not going back again
I'm not the man I was back then
I will start again
I will start again
I'm not going back my friend
I'm not the man I was back then
I couldn't slow it down I know I got mean
I couldn't feel a thing, they couldn't touch me
None of those young girls could understand
How slowly killing oneself takes
A toll on man
I'm not going back again
I'm not the man I was back then
I will start again
I will start again
I'm not going back my friend
I'm not the man I was back then
A cold and early dawn
For a man gone so wrong
Another lonely way of wasting time
So late into the night
I'm not going back again
I'm not the man I was back then
I'm not going back again
I'm not the man I was back then
I will start again
I will start again
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
The Man I Was Lyrics as written by Ben Nichols
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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