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 nothing funny about just slipping away
It's nothing funny how you're spending your days
But you're laughing like a kid at a carnival
And I watched you stumbling around this dusty town
I heard your bottle talking way too loud
As the Federales tried to hunt you down
For something you can't remember what was about
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
I used to watch you on the late night scene
The timely rescue of a metal teen
Six strings were strumming rhythm and lead
And that hadn't occurred to me
When I met you I was twenty-two
Trying so hard to play it cool
But there was so much that I needed to say
And nothing came out the right way
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
There's nothing elegant in being a drunk
It's nothing righteous being sixty and a punk
But when you're looking in the mirror do you see
That kid that you used to be?
Broke and working in a record store
Daydreaming about the upcoming tour
Were you happier when you poor?
Were you happier when you poor?
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
It's nothing funny how you're spending your days
But you're laughing like a kid at a carnival
And I watched you stumbling around this dusty town
I heard your bottle talking way too loud
As the Federales tried to hunt you down
For something you can't remember what was about
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
I used to watch you on the late night scene
The timely rescue of a metal teen
Six strings were strumming rhythm and lead
And that hadn't occurred to me
When I met you I was twenty-two
Trying so hard to play it cool
But there was so much that I needed to say
And nothing came out the right way
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
There's nothing elegant in being a drunk
It's nothing righteous being sixty and a punk
But when you're looking in the mirror do you see
That kid that you used to be?
Broke and working in a record store
Daydreaming about the upcoming tour
Were you happier when you poor?
Were you happier when you poor?
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
The curtain falls to applause and the band plays you off, the band plays you off
He's a superhero growing bored with no one to save anymore
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
60 & Punk Lyrics as written by Benjamin Gibbard
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Remarkable new song. I've heard it may be about Peter Buck though I have no idea. Clearly seems to be a musical hero of Ben that put him on his current path
The line:
I used to watch you on the late night scene The timely rescue of a metal teen
Just perfect He's a bit younger than me but this is how I felt in early 80's. I always thought hard rock and 70's era stars were fine but nothing very interesting. Then I heard REM, Depeche, The Cure, The Smiths, etc.and it was like a spark.
One of my favorite DCFC songs already.
Anyone know if this is about someone specific?
@thisoldwound13 I've heard it may be about Peter Buck though I have no idea. Clearly seems to be a musical hero of Ben that put him on his current path<br /> <br /> The line: <br /> <br /> I used to watch you on the late night scene<br /> The timely rescue of a metal teen<br /> <br /> Just perfect He's a bit younger than me but this is how I felt in early 80's. I always thought hard rock and 70's era stars were fine but nothing very interesting. Then I heard REM, Depeche, The Cure, The Smiths, etc.and it was like a spark.<br /> <br /> One of my favorite DCFC songs already.