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.
Driving home to be with you
The highway's dividing, the city's in view
As usual, I'm almost on time
You're the last thing that's on my mind
I wish I could tell you the way that I feel
But tonight is the night I fell asleep at the wheel
No commotion, no screaming brakes
Most of it's over before I awake
From the ceiling, my coffee cup drips
While out my window, the horizon does flips
The worst part was hitting the ground
Not the feeling so much as the sound
Can't help but wonder if all this is real
'Cause tonight is the night I fell asleep at the wheel
Rubberneck traffic and passersby
A slow motion Walter, the fire engine guy
Stand around with their mouths open wide
I heard some idiot ask if someone's inside
With the 'Jaws of Life' they tried and they tried
Nobody here can know how I feel
'Cause tonight is the night I fell asleep at the wheel
I guess it's over now
'Cause I've never seen so much
Never seen so much, never seen so much
Never seen so much
I guess it's over now
'Cause I've never seen so much
Never seen so much, never seen so much blood
In all the confusion, there's something serene
I'm just a posthumous part of the scene
Now I'm floating above looking in
As the radio blares and wheels spin
I can see my face slump with a grin
And you
You're the last thing on my mind
You're the last thing on my mind
You're the last thing on my mind
You're the last thing on my mind
Suddenly things become unsound
Stumbling on the shaky ground
Given arrows to shoot tornadoes down
Shoot them down to the ground
Saw a falling leaf, good luck, jump to grab
Much to our surprise, a butterfly
And it sunk in this induration
Induration in our lives
Inside ourselves, a hidden sun, that burns and burns
But never does any harm to anyone
Shivering madly in the dark
Like an animal abandoned in the car park
And she held me, and then she showed me the
Beauty of the human heart
Inside ourselves, a hidden sun, that burns and burns
But never does any harm to anyone
A hidden sun, that burns and burns
But never does any harm to anyone
Anyone
Ooh, anyone, hmm
Hidden sun (sun)
Hidden sun, ooh (sun)
(Sun)
(Sun)
(Sun)
(Sun)
The highway's dividing, the city's in view
As usual, I'm almost on time
You're the last thing that's on my mind
I wish I could tell you the way that I feel
But tonight is the night I fell asleep at the wheel
No commotion, no screaming brakes
Most of it's over before I awake
From the ceiling, my coffee cup drips
While out my window, the horizon does flips
The worst part was hitting the ground
Not the feeling so much as the sound
Can't help but wonder if all this is real
'Cause tonight is the night I fell asleep at the wheel
Rubberneck traffic and passersby
A slow motion Walter, the fire engine guy
Stand around with their mouths open wide
I heard some idiot ask if someone's inside
With the 'Jaws of Life' they tried and they tried
Nobody here can know how I feel
'Cause tonight is the night I fell asleep at the wheel
I guess it's over now
'Cause I've never seen so much
Never seen so much, never seen so much
Never seen so much
I guess it's over now
'Cause I've never seen so much
Never seen so much, never seen so much blood
In all the confusion, there's something serene
I'm just a posthumous part of the scene
Now I'm floating above looking in
As the radio blares and wheels spin
I can see my face slump with a grin
And you
You're the last thing on my mind
You're the last thing on my mind
You're the last thing on my mind
You're the last thing on my mind
Suddenly things become unsound
Stumbling on the shaky ground
Given arrows to shoot tornadoes down
Shoot them down to the ground
Saw a falling leaf, good luck, jump to grab
Much to our surprise, a butterfly
And it sunk in this induration
Induration in our lives
Inside ourselves, a hidden sun, that burns and burns
But never does any harm to anyone
Shivering madly in the dark
Like an animal abandoned in the car park
And she held me, and then she showed me the
Beauty of the human heart
Inside ourselves, a hidden sun, that burns and burns
But never does any harm to anyone
A hidden sun, that burns and burns
But never does any harm to anyone
Anyone
Ooh, anyone, hmm
Hidden sun (sun)
Hidden sun, ooh (sun)
(Sun)
(Sun)
(Sun)
(Sun)
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It took me over a year to get the double meaning in "You're the last thing on my mind." I sang this song for an audition for a high school play when i was a freshman. they didn't let me finish (they didn't think i was bad, they cut a lot of people off) but if you don't get to the end, it sounds like a sick song. people were laughing as a sung it, the directors probably thought i was psycho. when i was done, someone asked me "who sings that, adam sandler?" i was not happy. oh well. i love this song
I would have let you in the play.