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.
He seemed no different from the rest
Just a healthy normal boy
His mama always did her best
And he was daddy's pride and joy
He learned to walk and talk on time
But never cared much to be held
And steadily he would decline
Into his solitary shell
As a boy he was considered somewhat odd
Kept to himself most of the time
He would daydream in and out of his own world
But in every other way he was fine
He's a Monday morning lunatic
Disturbed from time to time
Lost within himself
In his solitary shell
A temporary catatonic
Madman on occasion
When will he break out
Of his solitary shell
He struggled to get through his day
He was helplessly behind
He poured himself onto the page
Writing for hours at a time
As a man he was a danger to himself
Fearful and sad most of the time
He was drifting in and out of sanity
But in every other way he was fine
He's a Monday morning lunatic
Disturbed from time to time
Lost within himself
In his solitary shell
A momentary maniac
With casual delusions
When will he be let out
Of his solitary shell
Just a healthy normal boy
His mama always did her best
And he was daddy's pride and joy
He learned to walk and talk on time
But never cared much to be held
And steadily he would decline
Into his solitary shell
As a boy he was considered somewhat odd
Kept to himself most of the time
He would daydream in and out of his own world
But in every other way he was fine
He's a Monday morning lunatic
Disturbed from time to time
Lost within himself
In his solitary shell
A temporary catatonic
Madman on occasion
When will he break out
Of his solitary shell
He struggled to get through his day
He was helplessly behind
He poured himself onto the page
Writing for hours at a time
As a man he was a danger to himself
Fearful and sad most of the time
He was drifting in and out of sanity
But in every other way he was fine
He's a Monday morning lunatic
Disturbed from time to time
Lost within himself
In his solitary shell
A momentary maniac
With casual delusions
When will he be let out
Of his solitary shell
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.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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."
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
@KingTrips
It's not that I have anything about Jung, it's just that he kinda died a couple decades before autism and schizophrenia were formally recognized as separate conditions, so he has no relevance to this conversation. If you had any understanding of modern psychology beyond copy/pasting quotes (that don't actually support your claims) from random websites you would realize how irrelevant analytical psychology is to this discussion.
@Ganondox Jung knew about schizophrenia before anyone else did. All my references directly support this discussion. If you had an understanding mind you would see I have correctly discerned the difference between the two disorders and proven the writers of the song being 80% accurate and your interpretation in the negatives...
@Ganondox <br /> <br /> ...no, he did not. You've crossed the line from willfully ignorant to outright delusional. You have done NOTHING to discern the difference between autism and schizophrenia, nothing you say makes any sense to anyone except you.
@Ganondox <br /> <br /> "it's just that he kinda died a couple decades before autism and schizophrenia were formally recognized as separate conditions..."<br /> <br /> Eugen Bleuler coined the term schizophrenia in 1908. Carl Jung was his student in 1900-1909... Jung died in 1961. Autism was coined by Bleuler 1911... Autism is a fundamental symptom of Schizophrenia. Han's Asperger was influenced by Bleuler. When Bleuler coined the term he took it from the Greek word "autos" meaning "self."<br /> <br /> "autistic withdrawal of the patient to his fantasies, against which any influence from outside becomes an intolerable disturbance"<br /> <br /> You'll also find other information on topics like "schizophrenic autism" by more modern experts if you are really a student like you say you are.<br /> <br /> Without answering your foolish child like accusations I was revealing historic roots on the subject you seem to know nothing about and more concerned with winning a debate on a song that is clearly referring to autism of which I have more than proven...<br /> <br /> Good day sir,<br /> KingTrips<br /> <br /> PS... BTW, "king trips" is a poker hand. It looks like I just took all your chips... lmao
@Ganondox<br /> <br /> "you would realize how irrelevant analytical psychology is to this discussion...."<br /> <br /> The extraversion and introversion continuum theories brought out by Jungian thought would explain why ppl can relate to the song without being autistic. Jung believed introversion to be a personality trait we all share. The way the song presents itself touches this psychological phenomena... <br /> <br /> Bottom line John Petrucci/ Mike Portnoy are very talented song writers, Carl Jung continues to prove relevance from the grave and analytical psychology is useful in a lot of things (not just this discussion)...
John Myung and Jordan Rudess also contributed to the writing of this song.. I didn't mean to leave them out. Only clarifying do to your erroneous nitpicking...<br /> <br /> I would also have to point out based on your demeanor, volatile personality traits and unwillingness to except facts... There are a few opinions CG Jung had I disagree with of which I will leave unrevealed reserved for a later date... If you go there...
@KingTrips<br /> <br /> I already talked about how autism was originally seen as part of schizophrenia, dumbass. The only point that matters is how autism DIFFERS from schizophrenia, which didn't come until MUCH later. You keep pasting completely irrelevant quotes that have nothing whatsoever to do with my comment. If you want to go on about how introversion and extroversion fit into this song, you can go make your own comment without tagging me and spamming me with your nonsense.
@Ganondox <br /> <br /> If we know the writers created a concept song with 6 degrees of mental disturbance and can locate 5 definite then the part we are debating has to be meaning.<br /> <br /> About to Crash- bipolar, War Inside My Head- PTSD, The Test That Stumped Them All- schizophrenia, Goodnight Kiss-post partum depression, Losing Time- dissociative identity disorder which would leave Solitary Shell under autism. It doesn't get any simply put then that..<br /> <br /> All my references which I had to post somehow reflect my original 1 paragraph. <br /> <br /> Jung's method of recover differ but his descriptions are relevant added with the National Autism websites descriptions that isolate the 5th degree within 80% accuracy to be Solitary Shell... <br /> <br /> All you have done is finger point and call names with no substantial evidence...<br /> <br /> I'm not the guilty one here Bucko... lmao You are pretty shallow.
The only reason I have stuck with it this long is because I was learning by researching. It's a done deal...
@KingTrips <br /> <br /> You ignored the fact that you could have gotten the schizophrenia and autism sections mixed up. Also, this song may very well be supposed to be about autism, but as I said numerous times before, if it is the writer knows nothing about autism. <br /> <br /> None of your rant about Jung or the National Autism website make any sense, especially with your utterly arbitrary declaration that you achieved "80% accuracy". I'm seriously concerned for your mental health, you are not acting like a sane person. <br /> <br /> That fact you think you've learned so much by researching is just a sign you came into this topic completely ignorant and just accepted whatever fit your preconceived notions, you still know next to nothing. I've actually studied this stuff at university, not just on random sites on the internet, but even with internet research I've been studying this for around 7 YEARS, not just two days like you. The only reason I didn't pull up sources to counter all your claims is because it's simply a waste of my time, especially when the sources you cite already do little to support your argument and I already gave examples of such. <br /> <br /> PS: Did you seriously just create duplicate accounts to thumb yourself up? You're pathetic beyond words.