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.
The gap that grows between our lives
The gap our parents never had
Stop those thoughts control your mind
Replace the things that you despise
Oh you're old I hear you say
It doesn't mean that I don't care
I don't believe in it anymore
Pathetic acts for a worthless cause
In the beginning when we were winning when our smiles were genuine
In the beginning when we were winning when our smiles were genuine
But now unforgiven the everlasting everlasting
The world is full of refugees
They're just like you and just like me
But as people we have a choice
To end the void with all its force
So don't forget or don't pretend
It's all the same now in the end
It was set in a different life
Destroys my days and haunts my nights
In the beginning when we were winning when our smiles were genuine
In the beginning when we were winning when our smiles were genuine
But now unforgiven the everlasting everlasting
In the beginning when we were winning when our smiles were genuine
In the beginning when we were winning when our smiles were genuine
But now unforgiven the everlasting everlasting
But now unforgiven the everlasting everlasting
The gap our parents never had
Stop those thoughts control your mind
Replace the things that you despise
Oh you're old I hear you say
It doesn't mean that I don't care
I don't believe in it anymore
Pathetic acts for a worthless cause
In the beginning when we were winning when our smiles were genuine
In the beginning when we were winning when our smiles were genuine
But now unforgiven the everlasting everlasting
The world is full of refugees
They're just like you and just like me
But as people we have a choice
To end the void with all its force
So don't forget or don't pretend
It's all the same now in the end
It was set in a different life
Destroys my days and haunts my nights
In the beginning when we were winning when our smiles were genuine
In the beginning when we were winning when our smiles were genuine
But now unforgiven the everlasting everlasting
In the beginning when we were winning when our smiles were genuine
In the beginning when we were winning when our smiles were genuine
But now unforgiven the everlasting everlasting
But now unforgiven the everlasting everlasting
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Seems like a very personal song to me... simply reflective, or perhaps Nicki is observing they are portrayed now. They first album can be full of righteous indignation without rebuke as they haven’t "made it" at that point.
I was privileged to talk with James in about 2005…while he was thoroughly nice, he was very guarded and “media savvy”… totally different to 1992. This is what this song makes me think of.