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.
TV invents a disease you think you have
So you buy our drugs and soon you depend on them
Pain is in your mind gotcha comin' back for more
Again and again and again and again, gonna rip you off
Rip you off
Doctor says you need surgery now
You're feelin' good 'til the side effects fuck up something else
You're ensnared by the medicine man paying up the ass again and again, gonna rip you off
Trust your mechanic to mend your car
Bring it in to his garage
He tightens and loosens a few spare parts
One thing's fixed, another falls apart
And the rich eat you
A magazine says your face don't look quite right
Unless you wear our brand new wonder creme tonight
Never look right again unless you grease your skin
Again and again and again and again, gonna rip you off
Told you're depressed so of course you see the psychiatrist
Right when you hit your neuroses' roots he confuses you
He fucks your head up worse, gotcha feeling helpless
You're comin' back for more again and again, gonna rip you off
Rip you off
Trust your mechanic to make you well
You see an awful lot of him now
The quicker he makes your life fall apart
The more money you put in his pockets
Trust your mechanic to plug your holes
Trust him to make more somewhere else
Trust your mechanic, he'll always come through and rip you off
So you buy our drugs and soon you depend on them
Pain is in your mind gotcha comin' back for more
Again and again and again and again, gonna rip you off
Rip you off
Doctor says you need surgery now
You're feelin' good 'til the side effects fuck up something else
You're ensnared by the medicine man paying up the ass again and again, gonna rip you off
Trust your mechanic to mend your car
Bring it in to his garage
He tightens and loosens a few spare parts
One thing's fixed, another falls apart
And the rich eat you
A magazine says your face don't look quite right
Unless you wear our brand new wonder creme tonight
Never look right again unless you grease your skin
Again and again and again and again, gonna rip you off
Told you're depressed so of course you see the psychiatrist
Right when you hit your neuroses' roots he confuses you
He fucks your head up worse, gotcha feeling helpless
You're comin' back for more again and again, gonna rip you off
Rip you off
Trust your mechanic to make you well
You see an awful lot of him now
The quicker he makes your life fall apart
The more money you put in his pockets
Trust your mechanic to plug your holes
Trust him to make more somewhere else
Trust your mechanic, he'll always come through and rip you off
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
I think this song speaks for itself, how business's mechanics, doctors, etc. More towards the not good ones, and they can get away with it. So there for they rip you off.