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 lost all faith in my God, in his religion too
I told the angels they could sing their songs to someone new
I lost all trust in my friends
I watched my heart turn to stone
I thought that I was left to walk this wicked world alone
Tonight I'll dust myself off
Tonight I'll suck my gut in
I'll face the night and I'll pretend
I got something to believe in
And I had lost touch with reason
I watched life criticize the truth
Been waiting for a miracle
I know you have too
Though I know I won't win
I'll take this one on the chin
We'll raise a toast and I'll pretend
I got something to believe in
If I don't believe in Jesus, how can I believe the Pope
If I don't believe in heroin, how can I believe in dope
If there's nothing but survival, how can I believe in sin
In a world that gives you nothing
We need something to believe in
If I don't believe in Jesus, how can I believe the Pope
If I don't believe in heroin, how can I believe in dope
If there's nothing but survival, how can I believe in sin
In a world that gives you nothing
We need something to believe in
I told the angels they could sing their songs to someone new
I lost all trust in my friends
I watched my heart turn to stone
I thought that I was left to walk this wicked world alone
Tonight I'll dust myself off
Tonight I'll suck my gut in
I'll face the night and I'll pretend
I got something to believe in
And I had lost touch with reason
I watched life criticize the truth
Been waiting for a miracle
I know you have too
Though I know I won't win
I'll take this one on the chin
We'll raise a toast and I'll pretend
I got something to believe in
If I don't believe in Jesus, how can I believe the Pope
If I don't believe in heroin, how can I believe in dope
If there's nothing but survival, how can I believe in sin
In a world that gives you nothing
We need something to believe in
If I don't believe in Jesus, how can I believe the Pope
If I don't believe in heroin, how can I believe in dope
If there's nothing but survival, how can I believe in sin
In a world that gives you nothing
We need something to believe in
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
Something to Believe In Lyrics as written by Jon Bon Jovi
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I think this song is pretty good at describing where a lot of people may find themselves at some point in their lives.
I actually don't view it as anti-religious at all but more as wanting to hold onto your spiritual beliefs, trust in your friends, etc, but the world is telling you that it's all a bunch of nonsense, your friends have betrayed you, and as a result you see your heart turning "to stone."
This is where you realize it's much better to have faith/trust in some things and just believe for the sake of believing rather than doubting everything because you wind up happier, more content, etc with life believing. And if it's all non-existant, then it's certainly not useless anyway since it makes your life so much more meaningful and enjoyable.
Have you guys heard this song on the One wild Night Live album? It's one of the best live performances I have ever heard! The feeling of it, it just can't be described. So much better than in a studio. Anyone who says that songs can't be better live than on album (mostly people who listen to pop artists who can't sing for real) should hear this. Everyone is just giving it all, Jon sings like a God and Richie's guitar has a sound that would open a mountain. And Tico, Dave and Hugh are fantastic! The lyrics are awesome. Most songs like this are about the way you DO have something to believe in, while this one is about straighten up and pretending that you do.
@Samborafp Yeah. Just as good as in These Days.
I agree with ya samborafp (yet again lol (read my post on "dry county", Richie is GOD!!! lol!!!)), this song is amazing live, it's amazing how Jon gets the crowd singing along at the end (but its something he's good at!!!)!!
Jon and Richie's harmonies in the live version are great!! The song is great cause it's from the heart and is how you can feel sometimes (feelin like you need sumthin to believe in)!
Overall, I LOVE the One Wild Night Live album, its great!!! So many great songs!!!
this is a beautiful song,i just love this...awesome....
This song always gets to me. It's about disolution and feeling that sometimes there is nothing to believe in but you need to believe in something even if you don't know what if that something is there. This song goes off big time
I love this song. It describes how I feel when it seems like I'm losing my faith.
This is an amazing song about struggle and strength. "Though I know I won't win, I'll take this one on the chin." Sometimes in life you have to do difficult things even though it may be difficult. This song refers to how easy it is to lose your faith. This world hardens you and you get so caught up in the things around you that dont matter that you forget about what does.
Is it really "If I don't believe in heroin, how can I believe in dope"? I thought it was 'If I don't believe in Hell, how can I believe in Hope' which fits with the whole lost faith theme and is just a gorgeous line....
It is Heroin and Dope. He's basically sayin that if you dont believe in X it contradicts the belief in Y.
I have always felt that this song fit the whole feel of the album, which is darkness in society, or humanity. I'm not sure what Bon Jovi was going through when this album was made, but this is a very heavy album. And one of my favorites
They insist they were in a happy time when the album was made. The album says otherwise but I always hear that they were as happy as can be when it was made. Guess we gotta take their word for it.
@Fatalfurr There are a few happy songs. (If That’s What It Takes is probably the most upbeat, but Lie To Me and This Ain’t A Love Song are standard love songs, if you ask me. Diamond Ring is kinda like “I’ll Be There For You”, just, not as upbeat. But they kind of have the same concept. “I’ll be this; I’ll do that”. Heck, even the title track has a positive beat, in spite of the sad lyrics. Poor Jimmy Shoes.
I almost feel like they're putting up a mask to keep everyone around them happy and to avoid conflict. They may not believe in X because they believe in Y. But for the sake of avoiding conflict they'll pretend to believe in X for the people around them. Yup, sounds like putting on a mask