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.
Yeah, you know they gonna bring him down
They gonna wreck it down, yeah
Something's come to rock me
And I can't keep my head
I get nervous in the New York City streets
Where my legacy treads
I know I'm better off standing in the shadows
Far from humans with guns
But now it's too late, there's no escape
From what they have done,
C'mon
I'm going deeper underground
There's too much panic in this town
I'm going deeper underground
There's too much panic in this town
I'm going deeper underground
But I got to go deeper, got to go much deeper, yeah
Cuh-heh, they gonna wreck it down, yeah
Step do-do-do-dow-di-dow-di-down
Hey we're gonna bring it down, yeah
Some people with a pocket full of money
And an eye full of hate
Take a pleasure in destruction
Of the very thing that they tried to create
Somebody tell me why does all
Mankind only tamper and touch?
Have a habit where they-bite off
More they can chew
And now it's too much
I'm going deeper underground, hey ha
There's too much panic in this town
I'm going deeper underground
There's too much panic in this town
I'm going deeper underground
There's too much panic in this town
I'm going, I'm going, I'm going
Deeper underground
I'm going, I'm going, I'm going
Deeper underground
I'm going, I'm going, I'm going
Deeper underground
I'm going, I'm going, I'm going
Deeper underground
Something's come to rock me
And I can't keep my head
I get nervous in the New York City streets
Where my legacy treads
I know I'm better off standing in the shadows
Far from humans with guns
But now it's too late, there's no escape
From what they have done
(Got to go) I'm going deeper underground
(Got to go deeper) I'm going, I'm going (deeper)
I'm going (deeper), I'm going (yeah)
I'm going deeper underground
(I'm going, I'm going
Got to go deep
(I'm going, I'm going)
I'm going deeper underground
(Deeper, deeper)
Got to get down now
I'm going, I'm going.
They gonna wreck it down, yeah
Something's come to rock me
And I can't keep my head
I get nervous in the New York City streets
Where my legacy treads
I know I'm better off standing in the shadows
Far from humans with guns
But now it's too late, there's no escape
From what they have done,
C'mon
I'm going deeper underground
There's too much panic in this town
I'm going deeper underground
There's too much panic in this town
I'm going deeper underground
But I got to go deeper, got to go much deeper, yeah
Cuh-heh, they gonna wreck it down, yeah
Step do-do-do-dow-di-dow-di-down
Hey we're gonna bring it down, yeah
Some people with a pocket full of money
And an eye full of hate
Take a pleasure in destruction
Of the very thing that they tried to create
Somebody tell me why does all
Mankind only tamper and touch?
Have a habit where they-bite off
More they can chew
And now it's too much
I'm going deeper underground, hey ha
There's too much panic in this town
I'm going deeper underground
There's too much panic in this town
I'm going deeper underground
There's too much panic in this town
I'm going, I'm going, I'm going
Deeper underground
I'm going, I'm going, I'm going
Deeper underground
I'm going, I'm going, I'm going
Deeper underground
I'm going, I'm going, I'm going
Deeper underground
Something's come to rock me
And I can't keep my head
I get nervous in the New York City streets
Where my legacy treads
I know I'm better off standing in the shadows
Far from humans with guns
But now it's too late, there's no escape
From what they have done
(Got to go) I'm going deeper underground
(Got to go deeper) I'm going, I'm going (deeper)
I'm going (deeper), I'm going (yeah)
I'm going deeper underground
(I'm going, I'm going
Got to go deep
(I'm going, I'm going)
I'm going deeper underground
(Deeper, deeper)
Got to get down now
I'm going, I'm going.
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
this is some of jami's heavier stuff.. sometimes, i wish they would have made more songs like this one