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.
Gets dark around here early
Sometimes the moon it follows you in the middle of the day
Waiting to be found, we're just standin' around
There's nothin' really much to say
I didn't know any better
You didn't think that we should
So we're gonna burn down the night
I wanna be misunderstood
All four wheels across the pavement
We used to live in black and white
I only think about tomorrow
So it'll get me through tonight.
And I aint laughing
And I aint joking anymore
I keep my footsteps near the ground
I keep my eyes glued to the floor
And somewhere in between
Only the slightest dream on this side of midnight
And maybe we're just crazy
Maybe we're better off dead
Maybe things'll never change
Maybe you got it backwards in your head
The last of the ghetto astronauts won't be ignored
Said I'm gonna go where, no one has gone before
Said I'm gonna go where, no one has gone before
Gets dark around here early
Sometimes there is more to the moon than
just one man can see
The voice without a name cries
"Sounded just the same, just the same way"
If I didn't know any better
I'd say that maybe we all should
When the mornin' comes around
Don't wanna be misunderstood
We're sleepin' on the pavement thinkin' everythin's alright
Waitin' for tomorrow to get us through tonight
And I aint laughing
And I aint joking anymore
I keep my footsteps near the ground
I keep my eyes glued to the floor
And somewhere in between
Only the slightest dream on this side of midnight
Been walkin' here with the giants
Sleepin' in a town without a name
Been holdin' on to your arms and legs
(Your arms and legs)
Cause nobody here wants to put you back together again
(Together again, together again, together again)
Maybe we're just crazy
Maybe we're better off dead
Maybe things'll never change
Maybe you got it backwards in your head
The last of the ghetto astronauts won't be ignored
Said I'm gonna go where no one has gone before
Said I'm gonna go where no one has gone before
No one
No one
Sometimes the moon it follows you in the middle of the day
Waiting to be found, we're just standin' around
There's nothin' really much to say
I didn't know any better
You didn't think that we should
So we're gonna burn down the night
I wanna be misunderstood
All four wheels across the pavement
We used to live in black and white
I only think about tomorrow
So it'll get me through tonight.
And I aint laughing
And I aint joking anymore
I keep my footsteps near the ground
I keep my eyes glued to the floor
And somewhere in between
Only the slightest dream on this side of midnight
And maybe we're just crazy
Maybe we're better off dead
Maybe things'll never change
Maybe you got it backwards in your head
The last of the ghetto astronauts won't be ignored
Said I'm gonna go where, no one has gone before
Said I'm gonna go where, no one has gone before
Gets dark around here early
Sometimes there is more to the moon than
just one man can see
The voice without a name cries
"Sounded just the same, just the same way"
If I didn't know any better
I'd say that maybe we all should
When the mornin' comes around
Don't wanna be misunderstood
We're sleepin' on the pavement thinkin' everythin's alright
Waitin' for tomorrow to get us through tonight
And I aint laughing
And I aint joking anymore
I keep my footsteps near the ground
I keep my eyes glued to the floor
And somewhere in between
Only the slightest dream on this side of midnight
Been walkin' here with the giants
Sleepin' in a town without a name
Been holdin' on to your arms and legs
(Your arms and legs)
Cause nobody here wants to put you back together again
(Together again, together again, together again)
Maybe we're just crazy
Maybe we're better off dead
Maybe things'll never change
Maybe you got it backwards in your head
The last of the ghetto astronauts won't be ignored
Said I'm gonna go where no one has gone before
Said I'm gonna go where no one has gone before
No one
No one
Lyrics submitted by NtoTheDrk
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exactly