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.
Born to be down
I've learned all my lessons before now
Born to be down
I think you'll get used to it
And you just don't get it
You keep it copacetic
And you learn to accept it
You know it's so pathetic
Born to be down
I think that I've said this before now
Born to be down
What good is confidence?
And you just don't get it
You keep it copacetic
And you learn to accept it
You know it's so pathetic
And you don't
I've learned all my lessons before now
Born to be down
I think you'll get used to it
And you just don't get it
You keep it copacetic
And you learn to accept it
You know it's so pathetic
Born to be down
I think that I've said this before now
Born to be down
What good is confidence?
And you just don't get it
You keep it copacetic
And you learn to accept it
You know it's so pathetic
And you don't
Lyrics submitted by ShiverForMe, edited by somewhatodd
Bound for the Floor Lyrics as written by Joseph Daniles David Scott Lucas
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sentric Music
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
I think this song shows the dual frustrations in growing up with depression in our society today...
You just always feel down and you can't understand why but you just accept it and act like you're okay (perspective of yelling at yourself)...
When you look at all the happy people, they've given in to all the societal norms and are brain-washed by the media and government, they don't notice all the problems with society and that culminates into you being even more depressed (perspective of yelling at society)...
Using the music video as further reasoning for my thinking...
The kids start out in a school playground, even at a young age you just have bad days and feel like shit with depression... And school is the beginning when teachers and parents tell young minds the way things are supposed to be and how you're supposed to act...
They move to the bar, when you grow up you use alcohol to cope so you can feel happy and try to be social... And everyone else cares so much about being popular and trying to fit in, notice how everyone gets the same drink...
At the end the music gets heavier, the kids go to the concert and rock out... Headbanging to a song or dancing like crazy at a concert is a good way to blow off steam and forget about your troubles... We might all be bound for the floor, but the band gets you and gives you an outlet to relieve some stress...