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.
It's a pity
It's a crying shame
Who pulled you down again?
How painful it must be
To bruise so easily inside
It's a pity
It's a downright crime
But it happens all the time
You wanna stay little daddy's girl
Wanna hide from the vicious world outside
But don't cry
Know the tears'll do no good
So dry your eyes
Your daddy he's the iron man
A battleship wrecked on dry land
Your mama she's a bitter bride
She'll never be satisfied,
And you know
That's not right
But don't cry
Know the tears'll do no good
So dry your eyes
They told you life is hard
It's misery from the start
It's dull and slow and painful
I tell you life is sweet
In spite of the misery
There's so much more
Be grateful
Who do you believe?
Who will you listen to
Who will it be?
It's high time that you decide
In your own mind
Tried to comfort you
Tried to tell you to be patient
They are blind
They can't see
Fortune gonna come some day
All gonna fade away
Your daddy the war machine and
Your mama the long and suffering
Prisoner of what she can not see
They told you life is hard
It's misery from the start
It's dull and slow and painful
I tell you life is sweet
In spite of the misery
There's so much more
Be grateful
Who do you believe?
Who will you listen to
Who will it be?
It's high time you decide
It's time you make up your own sweet little mind
They told you life is long
Be thankful when it's done
Don't ask for more
You should be grateful
But I tell you life is short
Be thankful because before you know
It will be over
'Cause life is sweet
And life is also very short
Your life is sweet
It's a crying shame
Who pulled you down again?
How painful it must be
To bruise so easily inside
It's a pity
It's a downright crime
But it happens all the time
You wanna stay little daddy's girl
Wanna hide from the vicious world outside
But don't cry
Know the tears'll do no good
So dry your eyes
Your daddy he's the iron man
A battleship wrecked on dry land
Your mama she's a bitter bride
She'll never be satisfied,
And you know
That's not right
But don't cry
Know the tears'll do no good
So dry your eyes
They told you life is hard
It's misery from the start
It's dull and slow and painful
I tell you life is sweet
In spite of the misery
There's so much more
Be grateful
Who do you believe?
Who will you listen to
Who will it be?
It's high time that you decide
In your own mind
Tried to comfort you
Tried to tell you to be patient
They are blind
They can't see
Fortune gonna come some day
All gonna fade away
Your daddy the war machine and
Your mama the long and suffering
Prisoner of what she can not see
They told you life is hard
It's misery from the start
It's dull and slow and painful
I tell you life is sweet
In spite of the misery
There's so much more
Be grateful
Who do you believe?
Who will you listen to
Who will it be?
It's high time you decide
It's time you make up your own sweet little mind
They told you life is long
Be thankful when it's done
Don't ask for more
You should be grateful
But I tell you life is short
Be thankful because before you know
It will be over
'Cause life is sweet
And life is also very short
Your life is sweet
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Great version of a great song,
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This song does speak for itself on many levels. I feel like I can relate to this song a lot for one my father was in war, even though he isn't all pro-war, "Iron man" anymore, but its just a way for me to relate to the song differently. I can relate to the lyrics while shes talking about your mama and your papa just because there have been times in my life where my parents are like the ones she speaking with, and I feel bad for them because they are prisoner of literally "what they cannot see".