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.
Baby how much closer could we be
I swear you've become a part of me
You are with me everywhere I go
If you feel it I already know
Everything I say to you is true
I don't want to tell you what to do
But if I were you
I would take the love I'm giving to you
Oh if I were you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
If I were you
I would trust in me like I trusted in you
Oh, if I were you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I know what you're dreaming when you sleep
You have secrets I will always keep
And in every morning when we arise
I see my reflection in your eyes
Every boy must learn to be a man
Maybe I can help you, yes I can
But if I were you
I would take the love I'm giving to you
Oh if I were you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
If I were you
I would trust in me like I trusted in you
Oh, if I were you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Well, I believe that love is a living thing
Born into our destinies
From a single moment of inspiration
And as it grows it changes your life forever
But if I were you
I would take the love I'm giving to you
Oh if I were you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
If I were you
I swear you've become a part of me
You are with me everywhere I go
If you feel it I already know
Everything I say to you is true
I don't want to tell you what to do
But if I were you
I would take the love I'm giving to you
Oh if I were you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
If I were you
I would trust in me like I trusted in you
Oh, if I were you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
I know what you're dreaming when you sleep
You have secrets I will always keep
And in every morning when we arise
I see my reflection in your eyes
Every boy must learn to be a man
Maybe I can help you, yes I can
But if I were you
I would take the love I'm giving to you
Oh if I were you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
If I were you
I would trust in me like I trusted in you
Oh, if I were you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
Well, I believe that love is a living thing
Born into our destinies
From a single moment of inspiration
And as it grows it changes your life forever
But if I were you
I would take the love I'm giving to you
Oh if I were you
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
If I were you
Lyrics submitted by BlueCrystalMirror, edited by CoffeeAchiever
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
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