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.
How many of you people are white trash?
Way back in junior high I could of swore my name was white boy
(What's up white boy?)
There was all types of ill shit going down
Between gangsters, thugs and cholos
Heshians, Asians or insane usos
Well I've got friends black white yellow red and brown
We would sit there by the river
And listen to the freeway
Just sit and smoke and drink with all my crew (ohh)
Well now when I look back
Over blue skies and smoke stacks
It makes me laugh to think I've made it through
And I hear the birds sing
When the sun brings out the morning
And there's everything or nothing I can do
When I break into my stash
I remember trailer ras
And there's everything or nothing I can do
We would sit there by the river
And listen to the freeway
And do the things you're not supposed to do
How to the jump the fence was the first thing I learned in high school
And I knew this girl that lived just down the street
On the phone the whole day scoring
And when hickeys got boring
The neighborhood was filled with pounds of tweak
We would sit in the recliner and listen to the TV
And do the things you're not supposed to do
Well now when I look back or I see teenagers mack
Well I think about those days I spent with you
And I hear the birds sing
When the sun brings out the morning
And there's everything or nothing I can do
When I break into my stash
I remember trailer ras
And there's everything for me to do
Way back in junior high I could of swore my name was white boy
(What's up white boy?)
There was all types of ill shit going down
Between gangsters, thugs and cholos
Heshians, Asians or insane usos
Well I've got friends black white yellow red and brown
We would sit there by the river
And listen to the freeway
Just sit and smoke and drink with all my crew (ohh)
Well now when I look back
Over blue skies and smoke stacks
It makes me laugh to think I've made it through
And I hear the birds sing
When the sun brings out the morning
And there's everything or nothing I can do
When I break into my stash
I remember trailer ras
And there's everything or nothing I can do
We would sit there by the river
And listen to the freeway
And do the things you're not supposed to do
How to the jump the fence was the first thing I learned in high school
And I knew this girl that lived just down the street
On the phone the whole day scoring
And when hickeys got boring
The neighborhood was filled with pounds of tweak
We would sit in the recliner and listen to the TV
And do the things you're not supposed to do
Well now when I look back or I see teenagers mack
Well I think about those days I spent with you
And I hear the birds sing
When the sun brings out the morning
And there's everything or nothing I can do
When I break into my stash
I remember trailer ras
And there's everything for me to do
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