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.
Loopy says he likes it up on top
Yes he knows if he ever lets go
The pretty machine will swallow him whole
He has no fear
He has no sense of shame
He will not stop until everybody everywhere wants to know his name
The one hit wonder
He likes the big time
He says he wants to live the kind of life
That will make the folks back home all bitch and whine
He knows if he ever even gets the chance
He'd sell his soul to make the monster dance
They can't hurt you unless you let them
Loopy says he sure does like the good life
Yes he knows all those women who scheme
Are just pretty pictures in the pretty machine
He knows if he ever even gets to try
He will bite down hard to make the monster cry
He knows if he ever even gets a chance
He'd sell his soul to make the monster dance
They can't hurt you unless you let them
I will say it again
They cannot hurt you unless you let them
Loopy says he likes it up on top
He prays to god and he hopes like hell
That the pretty machine
They will never fail
He has no fear
He doesn't really even have the time
He knows that the world is in love
With the pretty machine
The one hit wonder
He likes the big time
He wants to live the kind of life
That will make the folks back home scream, bitch, and whine
He knows if he ever even gets to try
He will bite down hard to make the monster cry
He knows if he ever even gets a chance
He'd sell his soul to make the monster dance
He knows if he ever even gets to play
He will stomp like god to make the monster say
They can't hurt you unless you let them
They cannot hurt you unless you let them
Yes he knows if he ever lets go
The pretty machine will swallow him whole
He has no fear
He has no sense of shame
He will not stop until everybody everywhere wants to know his name
The one hit wonder
He likes the big time
He says he wants to live the kind of life
That will make the folks back home all bitch and whine
He knows if he ever even gets the chance
He'd sell his soul to make the monster dance
They can't hurt you unless you let them
Loopy says he sure does like the good life
Yes he knows all those women who scheme
Are just pretty pictures in the pretty machine
He knows if he ever even gets to try
He will bite down hard to make the monster cry
He knows if he ever even gets a chance
He'd sell his soul to make the monster dance
They can't hurt you unless you let them
I will say it again
They cannot hurt you unless you let them
Loopy says he likes it up on top
He prays to god and he hopes like hell
That the pretty machine
They will never fail
He has no fear
He doesn't really even have the time
He knows that the world is in love
With the pretty machine
The one hit wonder
He likes the big time
He wants to live the kind of life
That will make the folks back home scream, bitch, and whine
He knows if he ever even gets to try
He will bite down hard to make the monster cry
He knows if he ever even gets a chance
He'd sell his soul to make the monster dance
He knows if he ever even gets to play
He will stomp like god to make the monster say
They can't hurt you unless you let them
They cannot hurt you unless you let them
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
One Hit Wonder Lyrics as written by Craig Montoya Art Alexakis
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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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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I read somewhere that this is the song that Alan Webb (kid who brok Jim Ryun's 30+ year old highschool mile record of 3:55 with a 3:53, and is basically the messiah of American distance running) listens to before he races. I don't particularly like this song, but I can understand why runners would, b/c it has a steady rhythm(sp?).
I love this song! Art has said that it is kinda a burn on the media, who is the "monster," or something like that. This is the song I listen to when I've had a tough day.
I agree with gregoe. It's about fame and the media. It's one of my favorite songs by the 'Clear.
Yep, Art is asking the 'one-hit wonders' if they can really handle it all since many artists tend to become corporat controlled. Loopy is either a bandmember or the name of the band, the pretty machine is probably fame, and the monster is probably the music executives
This song is a nice musical middle finger up to all the critics and record companies that said that they would never make it, and even better they made a video which was played on TV for all to see. Rock on Everclear, still going strong!
Whenever I'm having a really awful day, I put this song on and scream along with "they can't hurt you unless you let them" and it makes me feel so much better. This and Amphetamine are my two favorite Everclear songs.
back with the release of S&F, the critics were like "Everclear will be a one hit wonder" and then they were a big hit and Art was like "Yeah, a one hit wonder five times over" so it was like a big middle finger.
this song is awesome as... one of my faves
They can't hurt you unless you let themthe machine is the corporate world, and the monster is the media- the kind of go hand in hand. that's why "loopy" is so eager to "bite down hard to make the monster cry, sell his soul to make the monster dance, and stomp like god to make the monster say: they can't hurt you unless you let them". even though people may have mocked him and whatnot, he kept going, and now he's the one at the top of the charts, or whatever