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.
"Ballad of Mary"
Far Too Jones
Album: Shame and Her Sister
Hey Mary, are you still waiting?
Has your "thunder road" come along and gone
And left you praying?
Your so called friends and the stories they tell
Don't really seem to fit you all that well
And anyway, all I need to believe in now is you
Yeah, we can waste a life just waiting
For a time to live, a time to die
Either way, I know we've gotta start tonight
Chorus #1:
And this small town's got nothing left
For a couple of high school prom rejects
And this old car has got new headlights
And you can sleep, while I drive
Hey Mary, can you still feel it?
All the easy eyes upon you as you walk by
We're all just sinners living through the fall
Yeah, I read it on a subway wall
It said someday that little boy of yours
Is going to change the world, and I believe it's true
Chorus #2:
And this small town has got nothing left
For a couple of high school prom rejects
And this old car has got a new headlight
Hey baby you can sleep, hey, while I drive
So slip a little closer next to me
And tell me everything that angel said
All the world swears you're a liar
You can sleep while I drive
Well, we can waste a life just waiting
For a little time to live, a time to die
Either way, either way it's gotta start tonight
[Chorus #2]
Sleep while I drive
Sleep while I drive, yeah
Maybe I'm a waste of time
Yeah, maybe I'm a waste of time
That's all I want to know
Yeah, maybe I'm a waste of time
That's all I want to know
Baby, I'm a waste of time
I know, I know
Far Too Jones
Album: Shame and Her Sister
Hey Mary, are you still waiting?
Has your "thunder road" come along and gone
And left you praying?
Your so called friends and the stories they tell
Don't really seem to fit you all that well
And anyway, all I need to believe in now is you
Yeah, we can waste a life just waiting
For a time to live, a time to die
Either way, I know we've gotta start tonight
Chorus #1:
And this small town's got nothing left
For a couple of high school prom rejects
And this old car has got new headlights
And you can sleep, while I drive
Hey Mary, can you still feel it?
All the easy eyes upon you as you walk by
We're all just sinners living through the fall
Yeah, I read it on a subway wall
It said someday that little boy of yours
Is going to change the world, and I believe it's true
Chorus #2:
And this small town has got nothing left
For a couple of high school prom rejects
And this old car has got a new headlight
Hey baby you can sleep, hey, while I drive
So slip a little closer next to me
And tell me everything that angel said
All the world swears you're a liar
You can sleep while I drive
Well, we can waste a life just waiting
For a little time to live, a time to die
Either way, either way it's gotta start tonight
[Chorus #2]
Sleep while I drive
Sleep while I drive, yeah
Maybe I'm a waste of time
Yeah, maybe I'm a waste of time
That's all I want to know
Yeah, maybe I'm a waste of time
That's all I want to know
Baby, I'm a waste of time
I know, I know
Lyrics submitted by TheRockCT
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