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.
Somewhere there's speaking
It's already coming in
Oh and it's rising at the back of your mind
You never could get it
Unless you were fed it
Now you're here and you don't know why
But under skinned knees and the skid marks
Past the places where you used to learn
You howl and listen
Listen and wait for the
Echoes of angels who won't return
He's everything you want
He's everything you need
He's everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
He says all the right things
At exactly the right time
But he means nothing to you
And you don't know why
You're waiting for someone
To put you together
You're waiting for someone to push you away
There's always another wound to discover
There's always something more you wish he'd say
He's everything you want
He's everything you need
He's everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
He says all the right things
At exactly the right time
But he means nothing to you
And you don't know why
But you'll just sit tight
And watch it unwind
It's only what you're asking for
And you'll be just fine
With all of your time
It's only what you're waiting for
Out of the island
Into the highway
Past the places where you might have turned
You never did notice
But you still hide away
The anger of angels who won't return
He's everything you want
He's everything you need
He's everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
He says all the right things
At exactly the right time
But he means nothing to you
And you don't know why
I am everything you want
I am everything you need
I am everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
I say all the right things
At exactly the right time
But I mean nothing to you and I don't know why
And I don't know why
Why
I don't know
It's already coming in
Oh and it's rising at the back of your mind
You never could get it
Unless you were fed it
Now you're here and you don't know why
But under skinned knees and the skid marks
Past the places where you used to learn
You howl and listen
Listen and wait for the
Echoes of angels who won't return
He's everything you want
He's everything you need
He's everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
He says all the right things
At exactly the right time
But he means nothing to you
And you don't know why
You're waiting for someone
To put you together
You're waiting for someone to push you away
There's always another wound to discover
There's always something more you wish he'd say
He's everything you want
He's everything you need
He's everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
He says all the right things
At exactly the right time
But he means nothing to you
And you don't know why
But you'll just sit tight
And watch it unwind
It's only what you're asking for
And you'll be just fine
With all of your time
It's only what you're waiting for
Out of the island
Into the highway
Past the places where you might have turned
You never did notice
But you still hide away
The anger of angels who won't return
He's everything you want
He's everything you need
He's everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
He says all the right things
At exactly the right time
But he means nothing to you
And you don't know why
I am everything you want
I am everything you need
I am everything inside of you
That you wish you could be
I say all the right things
At exactly the right time
But I mean nothing to you and I don't know why
And I don't know why
Why
I don't know
Lyrics submitted by jstalilwyrd
Everything You Want Lyrics as written by Matthew B. Scannell Matt Scannell
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is what Matt Scannell (lead singer) said it is about:
Well, the long shot of it is I was basically in love with this beautifully complex and crazy person who could see everything around her except for the thing that could actually help her. And I just thought of a tormented glass-is-half-empty person who was in pain about a bunch of things that had happened to her in her life, and always wound up looking to the wrong places to find solace and to find help. And then when that was over, she would just be emptier than she was before. And I could just see her kind of sinking. It was written out of frustration, it was written out of sadness from my perspective, a sense of wishing that she would turn to me, and to realize that I wanted to help her. Maybe she couldn’t see it being what she really needed, and she never did. So the last chorus is really that chance that I had to say, “Hey, look — enough. I love you. I can help you, but I don’t mean anything to you at all.” A lot of people have said that they think it might be about God, and it might be about religion, and I’ve always tried to steer clear of nailing it too far on the head. But if you’re asking me directly, that’s really where it came from.
BEST ANSWER<br /> <br /> This is a prefect answer. Quotes from the author and paraphrased for easy comprehension.<br /> <br /> Well done and Bravo. <br />
I like the god perspecitive i think it is really really creative but to me this song is about a friend whom you really love and you've been trying to tell her without exactly saying it. But shes always talking about some other guy. The last curious i feel is just like him telling her. I am everything you want, i am everything you need i am everything inside of you that you wish you could be, i say all the right things at exactly the right time, and i mean nothing to you and i dont know why." its kinda like bringing it out. and the song ends with us wondering... well... what did she have to say.
great view.
@LiveUrLife I think more guys and ladies too should have the courage to do just this! At least then you know. Even if they have no answer, that's still your answer, and then you can move on. Nothing worse than loving someone and always feeling passed over and never knowing what could've been.
@LiveUrLife I think more guys and ladies too should have the courage to do just this! At least then you know. Even if they have no answer, that's still your answer, and then you can move on. Nothing worse than loving someone and always feeling passed over and never knowing what could've been.
Guys this is soooo much more than a song about unrequited love. The girl in this song has a mood/personality disorder. Maybe borderline or histrionic. Due to neglect or abuse as a child by someone she loved (the angels who won't return), she is unable to understand love the way most of us do. She desperately wants help (waiting for someone to put her together) but expects rejection (waiting for someone to push her away). She is unable to recognize what is good for her (never could get it unless your were fed it, chorus) and so she unwitting sabotages all good relationships (another wound to discover, something more you wish he'd say, chorus). It's more than loving someone who doesn't love you back, it's the frustration of loving someone who CAN'T love you back. Not in the same way.
i really dont think this song has anything to do with god. it just doesnt work so well that way. its about a guy who loves a girl, and she knows this, but doesnt feel the same. she knows that it would work well with him, but cant bring herself to be with him cuz shes too scared or something else that is definitely holding her back. perhaps shes tangled up in another relationship, one that isnt working out nearly as good as she hopes for.
i agree with you, like specifically the part where she does know he likes her and she knows hes perfect for her but she just doesnt like him and she doesnt know why...as if she wants to but she just cant...you know?<br /> <br /> but yea i just agree that she wishes she liked him but she just doesnt as opposed to her being oblivious. <br /> each to their own i suppose.
Well the lead singer already said what it was about but I have an interpretation of my own.
I think it could be about a man talking to the mirror basically. "He is everything inside of you that you wish you could be." He is trying believe in himself but he can't. In the end he know's he has it inside of him but doesn't know why he ignores that side.
I take it as a song that helps me believe in myself. Almost everyone has the potential to be great you just have to step out of your comfort zone and bring it out. When I need some motivation I listen to this. Hope you guys liked my interpretation.
To all the other guys who have been friend zoned.. This one's for you
@Joedogg9836 on WFZR (friend zoned radio) or KFZR on the west coast.
No, this song isn't about God. I said it somewhere before, but any heartfelt song can be misinterpreted about God if you simply replace the "she" and "hers" and other feminine pronouns with "God" and "His" and "Your," et cetera.
Both basically the same thing. And the law applies in reverse. Songs with God that can be changed to be about women.
.. anywho. Yeah, I'd have to agree with liveurlife as well. This person is everything she wants, everything she needs, but it means nothing to her, and she doesn't know why. And it's strange, because she sees him, and she know how he feels, if only.. vaguely..
.. and the mention to the angels. A reference to HER love. The one she cannot have. The one she's constantly focusing on while ignoring the one that would obviously work.
Haven't we all been in this situation at least once before? This song is such a great song for those whom suffer from unrequited love. The song involves three people. Person A is in love with Person B. Now, Person B is in love with Person C. Person A wants Person B to forget about Person C because Person C is never around. Person A is always around Person B and wants Person B to give them a try at love. We've all been somewhere in this little confusing triangle. Just lately, I broke out of the Person B mode and gave the Person A a chance :) yay me...but anyways, when I hear this song, my heart goes out to all the Person A's out there...
This song is about a man who is so confident in himself, that he is completely blind to his partner's needs and wants. He believes he is perfect for this person, but he is not. There is no perfect, if only he knew perfection does not exist. This is what really turns his partner away from him.
That's your view, but in this video it's about a guy who knows this girl is right for him and that he is right for her. She keeps chasing after the wrong guys and doesn't understand why she goes after the wrong people.
Obviously this is from the female perspective. The "confidence" that you see from the lyrics is the "frustration" of the nice guy, which you can never understand. It's the frustration that every man experiences. Do what your told and be punished, or hurt others and get rewarded more than you deserve. Either this is too obvious for you or not obvious enough, or maybe you and I are complete and total opposites.
This might be a little out there, but what if he's talking about God in the chorus? It makes sense. Then the last chorus, he's speaking from God's point of view. There certainly seems to be spiritual undertones in this song. What do you think?
that's not out there. most people probably thought that the first time they heard it.
A lot of people interpret it that way. The songwriter has said in interviews that it's not religious, it's about a woman he knew, but that he wants people to take their own meaning from it.