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.
Tell me, what can kind of girl would wanna play me?
Tear me down, then try to break me?
Baby, how could you betray me
After all I've done for you
Took you there, bought you this, now it's not enough, babe
You better get your story straight, babe
Tell me why you wanna play
I've had enough
These games, they gotta stop (oh)
I'm 'bout to get pissed off (ooh, yeah)
You had to keep leading me on
Baby, you thought you had me fooled but I see through you
Look into my eyes
Tell me what you see
You see a man who thought you loved me
You played me like a fool but I see right through you
I look into your eyes (oh)
I'll tell you what I see
I see a girl who ran game on me
You thought you had me fooled but I see right through you
Tell me, girl, what's his name? What'd he do to take you?
Does he freak you the way that I do? (I do)
'Cause you know that I know how to (I know how to)
When he leaves you, don't come cryin' back to me
'Cause I'll be moving on, you see
And you'll be just a memory
I think I've had enough
These games, they gotta stop (oh-oh)
I'm 'bout to get pissed off (ooh, yeah)
You had to keep leading me on
Baby, you thought you had me fooled but I see through you
Look into my eyes (oh)
Tell me what you see (tell me what you see)
You see a man who thought you loved me
You played me like a fool but I see right through you
I look into your eyes (into your eyes)
I'll tell you what I see (what I see)
I see a girl who ran game on me
You thought you had me fooled but I see right through you
Thought you had me fooled
See right through you
Oh (oh)
Oh (oh)
Ooh yeah, hey, yeah
See, see, see right through you
Baby, tell me, does he do it, do it like I do? (No)
Baby, tell me, will he love you, love you like I do? (No)
Now you're crying 'cause you can't believe that we are through
I don't care 'cause I see right through you
Let me tell you that this is how it's gonna be (be)
After all that what we've been through, what you mean to me (to me)
You won't do this to me
'Cause now I see right through you
Look into my eyes (oh)
Tell me what you see (tell me what you see)
You see a man who thought you loved me
You played me like a fool but I see right through you
I look into your eyes (whoa)
I'll tell you what I see (tell you what I see)
I see a girl who ran game on me (tell you what I see)
You thought you had me fooled but I see right through you
Look into my eyes (oh) (see right through you)
Tell me what you see (ooh) (baby)
You see a man who thought you loved me (oh)
You played me like a fool but I see right through you (oh)
I look into your eyes (yeah)
I'll tell you what I see (tell you what I see)
I see a girl who ran game on me
You thought you had me fooled but I see right through you
Tear me down, then try to break me?
Baby, how could you betray me
After all I've done for you
Took you there, bought you this, now it's not enough, babe
You better get your story straight, babe
Tell me why you wanna play
I've had enough
These games, they gotta stop (oh)
I'm 'bout to get pissed off (ooh, yeah)
You had to keep leading me on
Baby, you thought you had me fooled but I see through you
Look into my eyes
Tell me what you see
You see a man who thought you loved me
You played me like a fool but I see right through you
I look into your eyes (oh)
I'll tell you what I see
I see a girl who ran game on me
You thought you had me fooled but I see right through you
Tell me, girl, what's his name? What'd he do to take you?
Does he freak you the way that I do? (I do)
'Cause you know that I know how to (I know how to)
When he leaves you, don't come cryin' back to me
'Cause I'll be moving on, you see
And you'll be just a memory
I think I've had enough
These games, they gotta stop (oh-oh)
I'm 'bout to get pissed off (ooh, yeah)
You had to keep leading me on
Baby, you thought you had me fooled but I see through you
Look into my eyes (oh)
Tell me what you see (tell me what you see)
You see a man who thought you loved me
You played me like a fool but I see right through you
I look into your eyes (into your eyes)
I'll tell you what I see (what I see)
I see a girl who ran game on me
You thought you had me fooled but I see right through you
Thought you had me fooled
See right through you
Oh (oh)
Oh (oh)
Ooh yeah, hey, yeah
See, see, see right through you
Baby, tell me, does he do it, do it like I do? (No)
Baby, tell me, will he love you, love you like I do? (No)
Now you're crying 'cause you can't believe that we are through
I don't care 'cause I see right through you
Let me tell you that this is how it's gonna be (be)
After all that what we've been through, what you mean to me (to me)
You won't do this to me
'Cause now I see right through you
Look into my eyes (oh)
Tell me what you see (tell me what you see)
You see a man who thought you loved me
You played me like a fool but I see right through you
I look into your eyes (whoa)
I'll tell you what I see (tell you what I see)
I see a girl who ran game on me (tell you what I see)
You thought you had me fooled but I see right through you
Look into my eyes (oh) (see right through you)
Tell me what you see (ooh) (baby)
You see a man who thought you loved me (oh)
You played me like a fool but I see right through you (oh)
I look into your eyes (yeah)
I'll tell you what I see (tell you what I see)
I see a girl who ran game on me
You thought you had me fooled but I see right through you
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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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