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.
I've seen a man cry.
I've seen a man shout out,
Afraid losing the woman he loves.
I've seen a woman lying
To her man flat out,
About who she's been with
And where she was.
I've seen a low fire
And tried to figure it out.
This fight, it isn't going anywhere
I've seen a child's eyes
Watching his parents freak out.
I know they seem him but they just don't care.
It won't stop if they don't stop yelling.
It's not the way of working your problems out.
I can't stand being around this yelling
So I'm finding my way out.
I'm gonna drive and never ever slow down.
I'm gonna drive until I break down.
Packing my things and getting out of this town.
I'm gonna drive until I break down.
I've seen a child's eyes.
I've seen him living in doubt.
Not ever knowing what it's like to be in love.
I've seen his friends try
To just to help him get out.
He never told them what the problem really was.
I've seen a suicide.
They couldn't figure it out.
He blamed himself because they couldn't get along.
I've seen his parents' eyes
Trying to figure it out.
Where did our baby go and what went wrong?
It won't stop if they don't stop yelling
It's not the way of working your problems out.
I can't stand being around this yelling
So I'm finding my way out.
I'm gonna drive and never ever slow down.
I'm gonna drive until I break down.
Packing my things and getting out of this town.
I'm gonna drive until I break down.
I'm gonna drive until I break down.
Hold it inside until I break down.
I'm gonna try until I break down
Say my goodbyes until I break down.
(Baby c'mon)
I'm gonna drive and never ever slow down.
I'm gonna drive until I break down.
Packing my things and getting out of this town.
I'm gonna drive until I break down.
I'm gonna drive and never ever slow down.
I'm gonna drive until I break down.
Packing my things and getting out of this town.
I'm gonna drive until I break down.
I'm gonna drive until I break down.
Hold it inside until I break down.
I've seen a man shout out,
Afraid losing the woman he loves.
I've seen a woman lying
To her man flat out,
About who she's been with
And where she was.
I've seen a low fire
And tried to figure it out.
This fight, it isn't going anywhere
I've seen a child's eyes
Watching his parents freak out.
I know they seem him but they just don't care.
It won't stop if they don't stop yelling.
It's not the way of working your problems out.
I can't stand being around this yelling
So I'm finding my way out.
I'm gonna drive and never ever slow down.
I'm gonna drive until I break down.
Packing my things and getting out of this town.
I'm gonna drive until I break down.
I've seen a child's eyes.
I've seen him living in doubt.
Not ever knowing what it's like to be in love.
I've seen his friends try
To just to help him get out.
He never told them what the problem really was.
I've seen a suicide.
They couldn't figure it out.
He blamed himself because they couldn't get along.
I've seen his parents' eyes
Trying to figure it out.
Where did our baby go and what went wrong?
It won't stop if they don't stop yelling
It's not the way of working your problems out.
I can't stand being around this yelling
So I'm finding my way out.
I'm gonna drive and never ever slow down.
I'm gonna drive until I break down.
Packing my things and getting out of this town.
I'm gonna drive until I break down.
I'm gonna drive until I break down.
Hold it inside until I break down.
I'm gonna try until I break down
Say my goodbyes until I break down.
(Baby c'mon)
I'm gonna drive and never ever slow down.
I'm gonna drive until I break down.
Packing my things and getting out of this town.
I'm gonna drive until I break down.
I'm gonna drive and never ever slow down.
I'm gonna drive until I break down.
Packing my things and getting out of this town.
I'm gonna drive until I break down.
I'm gonna drive until I break down.
Hold it inside until I break down.
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This song is beautifully written and explains how the persona is considering breaking free of the turmoil in their life before they 'break down' by litterally driving away and arn't going to stop until the car 'breaks down'. Also, the situations the persona is describing in the song is actually themself.