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.
The kids sing out in defiance
Against a world that has forgotten them,
And the media asks,
"Why are the kids so angry?"
Afterwards they'll go back home
To their uncaring fathers
And misunderstanding mothers
And they'll dream of a time
When they're back again
With all their friends at another show
Where they will sing,
"These are the days...
These are the days we will never forget."
Sixteen and all alone,
Searching for a place to call her home.
Thinking about a bottle or maybe even worse,
But she passed on self-destruction
When she found a better way.
At the show, with the kids,
The excitement of change,
And singing along with every kid in the crowd,
She breathed in deep, and she sang out loud,
"These are the days...these are the days...
These are the days we will never forget."
He was never called cool.
No, he never fit in
'Cause he thought for himself
And he went against the trends,
But the abuse at school
Was finally setting in...
'Til he found a place to go,
With the other punk rockers
At the punk rock show
And shoulder to shoulder with his new allies,
He forgot about school,
As tears came to his eyes...
And he sang,
"These are the days...these are the days...
These are the days we will never forget."
Singing under the corner light,
My six string in my hand,
Playing my songs all by myself, thinking...
"No one out there could possibly understand",
But it wasn't too long before I realized I was wrong,
And I found myself, singing from a stage,
A chorus of voices singing along...
And we sing...
"These are the days...These are the days...
These are the days we will never forget."
Against a world that has forgotten them,
And the media asks,
"Why are the kids so angry?"
Afterwards they'll go back home
To their uncaring fathers
And misunderstanding mothers
And they'll dream of a time
When they're back again
With all their friends at another show
Where they will sing,
"These are the days...
These are the days we will never forget."
Sixteen and all alone,
Searching for a place to call her home.
Thinking about a bottle or maybe even worse,
But she passed on self-destruction
When she found a better way.
At the show, with the kids,
The excitement of change,
And singing along with every kid in the crowd,
She breathed in deep, and she sang out loud,
"These are the days...these are the days...
These are the days we will never forget."
He was never called cool.
No, he never fit in
'Cause he thought for himself
And he went against the trends,
But the abuse at school
Was finally setting in...
'Til he found a place to go,
With the other punk rockers
At the punk rock show
And shoulder to shoulder with his new allies,
He forgot about school,
As tears came to his eyes...
And he sang,
"These are the days...these are the days...
These are the days we will never forget."
Singing under the corner light,
My six string in my hand,
Playing my songs all by myself, thinking...
"No one out there could possibly understand",
But it wasn't too long before I realized I was wrong,
And I found myself, singing from a stage,
A chorus of voices singing along...
And we sing...
"These are the days...These are the days...
These are the days we will never forget."
Lyrics submitted by a scar in the sky
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