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.
Once there was this kid who
Got into an accident and couldn't come to school
But when he finally came back
His hair had turned from black into bright white
He said that it was from when
The cars had smashed him so hard
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Once there was this girl who
Wouldn't go and change with the girls in the change room
And when they finally made her
They saw birthmarks all over her body
She couldn't quite explain it
They'd always just been there
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
But both girl and boy were glad
'Cause one kid had it worse than that
'Cause then there was this boy whose
Parents made him come directly home right after school
And when they went to their church
They shook and lurched all over the church floor
He couldn't quite explain it
They'd always just gone there
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Got into an accident and couldn't come to school
But when he finally came back
His hair had turned from black into bright white
He said that it was from when
The cars had smashed him so hard
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Once there was this girl who
Wouldn't go and change with the girls in the change room
And when they finally made her
They saw birthmarks all over her body
She couldn't quite explain it
They'd always just been there
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
But both girl and boy were glad
'Cause one kid had it worse than that
'Cause then there was this boy whose
Parents made him come directly home right after school
And when they went to their church
They shook and lurched all over the church floor
He couldn't quite explain it
They'd always just gone there
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
Mmm-mmm-mmm-mmm
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i always believed that this song was about children in messed up situations, it doesnt matter about what kid or what happened. the kids in the song are just examples. i think its about children trying to cope with burdens in life, trying to understand why bad things happen and why they happen to them, why their parents are fucked up, why theyre different. its a sad song. really good song, pitty it was passed off as a joke song by most people.
@caramelprisoner Agreed
I think it's a commentary to physical vs. emotional "trials". The first boys experienced an event that injured him and left him physically changed, the girl had extensive natural blemishes. Exactly as the lyrics say, neither knew why, they just knew they were different, but none the less had these circles of people around them. However, they were still better off than the kid whose parents mentally brainwashed him...who was not allowed to socialize, was not allowed to go out, and was obviously being raised in some cultish church that he didn't know what any of it meant or why...he was simply being blindly raised to be a shut in and follow an idealogy that wasn't being explained, just, "You do it." So that's my take, physical differences can be challenging, but emotional brainwashing and not being you're own person is more damning.
@WVOtter I think this is the exact meaning of the song. It's pretty straight forward.<br /> <br /> I agree.
@WVOtter I think you are hitting it right on the mark. It is about being different in a way that you cannot easily hide. I understand this because the 2nd verse about the birthmarks perfectly describes me growing up. I have them all over my body and it made a lot of school difficult. Its probably why I only kept up with a handful of people from school and when I moved away I never really had a desire to return. <br /> Though I think in the end it might have been a good thing. You become much more understanding toward people. You can either be more understanding or critical of people after experiencing that. I am glad I chose understanding.
You have to wait the last verse of the song to catch the meaning of the song : There's always someone worse off than you. Especially when it comes to material/physical issues in front of mind/spirituals ones. The lyrics are about these three kids but it coulda been about anyone...Simple and good.
I agree with everything you said. Growing up after age 10 I thought my childhood was the worst, but you always meet someone(s) who had it much worse. It doesn't make it any easier, though. I like how the song is written: creative, yet thought provoking.
you got it, like a very few others.
@BoomShaka Agreed. Just like bad things happen to good people
I'm not sure I buy the abuse thing. The FAQ at crashtestdummies.com discusses an alternate verse which most certainly does not deal with abuse, but with disappointment (apparently there was a 3rd alternate verse, which has not been published). Brad also refers to the parents in the 3rd verse as "ecstatic christians". I doubt someone would refer to abusive parents using the word "ecstatic".
To me, this song seems like a big joke on Brad Roberts' part. Verses one and two are the leadup, describing children with unusually bad luck, suffering embarassing situations. The punchline is that they're both glad that they're not the kid in the last verse, with his overbearing fundie parents.
"They shook and lurched all over the church floor" I really always thought Brad was referring to nondenominational charismatic churches and their flocks' penchant for dancing (in the most bizarre fashions; "interpretive" doesn't begin to cover it) here. It supports the band's obvious disdain for organised religion, as well as the idea that a child trying to be accepted by his peers would be mortified to have his involvement in that behaviour made public, whether it's against his will or not.
Hit the nail right on the head for my interpreation right there - well said man.<br /> <br /> I'm pretty sure this is what he intended when he wrote the song but I'm also pretty sure he'd see the reason people may think its about abuse and be pretty pleased to hear their views.<br /> <br /> Great song though - puts pictures straight into my head when I hear it.
i thinkur reading too much into it - i think its a song a song thats about stuff that just happens that is sometimes wierd. its just life, you know. i think the chorus embodies that idea.
@friedslippers Agreed 100%
This song sums up trying to explain yourself in life.
These teenagers in the song are feeling awkward, trying to explain events that indeed happen to everyone but we are conditioned to feel embarrassed about.
For example,
A boy who was in a traumatic accident and going through it turned his hair white
A girl who is embarrassed about the birthmarks (or bruises from abuse) on her body who "had always just been there"
A boy who goes to church and thought nothing of it until he is old enough (a teen now) to see how strange it is and to be self-conscious about it. After all, they had "always just gone there"
@gradgirl The hair turning white to me means that the kid died, he became a ghost.<br /> And the birthmarks are bruises.<br /> But the church one is about a kid that is mentally and physically abused because he is not allowed to live his life. The other two may be physically injured or dead, but the 3rd child feels dead while actually being alive because they are not able to live the life they want to live. They are being controlled and told what to do. Therefore he has it worse. He feels dead, but is still alive.
I don't really think this song is about abuse but rather being an outsider. Even amongst the "freaks," there is a freak. I.e. Even the two kids are glad that they're not that religious kid. I guess it shows how tolerance can sommetimes merely be a thing of degrees.
Glad to see your perspective. This song isn't so freakish like some others are making it sound like.
I will make it brief and simple.
The trick from this song lays behind the verse "He (She) couldn't quite explain it" It is the most important and self-explanatory part, although subtly implied. There are three little narrations written about things that are mostly accidents, or events that simply happen for which you don't have a good explanation for, there's no particular reason, they are just... things that 'are' and they define your life in some way.
though honestly, meanings are subjective, you can give something as many meanings as your imagination can dig out.
The third narration changes sometimes, they replace it for another, I do believe that is not what separates them, but the greater scheme that unites them what haves to be heeded.
1 - accident. 2 - something you were born with. 3 - parents.
three things you have no control over and you cannot choose, three things that simply happen to you.
i don't think its about abuse. the first two kids are suffering from things that are no one's fault (the white hair, the birthmarks) but they know they have it ok as they are only being rejected by kids at school. the last boy is being rejected by his parents, which is way worse. anyways, that's what i think...
Yeh, I agree! Didn't you recognize that the first two kids are described as luckier than the las one? And how should an abused kid be luckier than another one?!? No, I really think its about getting attention/love from one's parents
I think it's about physical vs. mental pain/damage as well.