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.
After the glow, the scene
The stage, the set
Talk becomes slow
But there's one thing I'll never forget
Hey, you gotta pay your dues
Before you pay the rent
Over the turnstile turn out in the traffic
There's ways of living
It's the way I'm living
Right or wrong
It's all that I can do
And I wouldn't want to let you be
I want a range life
If I could settle down
If I could settle down
Then I would settle down
I want a range life
If I could settle down
If I could settle down
Then I would settle down
Run from the pigs, the fuzz
The cops, the heat
Pass me your gloves, there's crime
And it's never complete
Until you snort it up or shoot it down
You're never gonna feel free
Out on my skateboard
The night is just hummin'
And the gum smacks are the pulse
I'll follow if my Walkman fades
But I've got absolutely no one
No one but myself to blame
Don't worry
We're in no hurry
School's out
What did you expect?
I want a range life
If I could settle down
If I could settle down
Then I would settle down
I want a range life
If I could settle down
If I could settle down
Then I would settle down
Out on tour with Gabe P from Midtown
Fashion plates, scheming with the fix and
I don't understand what they mean
And I could really give a fuck
Go go Get Up Kids
Your hair slick with pomade
You're foxy to me
Are they foxy to you?
I will agree
That they do absolutely nothing
Nothing more than me
Dreamin' dream dream dream
The stage, the set
Talk becomes slow
But there's one thing I'll never forget
Hey, you gotta pay your dues
Before you pay the rent
Over the turnstile turn out in the traffic
There's ways of living
It's the way I'm living
Right or wrong
It's all that I can do
And I wouldn't want to let you be
I want a range life
If I could settle down
If I could settle down
Then I would settle down
I want a range life
If I could settle down
If I could settle down
Then I would settle down
Run from the pigs, the fuzz
The cops, the heat
Pass me your gloves, there's crime
And it's never complete
Until you snort it up or shoot it down
You're never gonna feel free
Out on my skateboard
The night is just hummin'
And the gum smacks are the pulse
I'll follow if my Walkman fades
But I've got absolutely no one
No one but myself to blame
Don't worry
We're in no hurry
School's out
What did you expect?
I want a range life
If I could settle down
If I could settle down
Then I would settle down
I want a range life
If I could settle down
If I could settle down
Then I would settle down
Out on tour with Gabe P from Midtown
Fashion plates, scheming with the fix and
I don't understand what they mean
And I could really give a fuck
Go go Get Up Kids
Your hair slick with pomade
You're foxy to me
Are they foxy to you?
I will agree
That they do absolutely nothing
Nothing more than me
Dreamin' dream dream dream
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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