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.
Forever's a lonely time and the dogs aren't always
Aren't always on my mind
'Cause I didn't free them
The scenery is burning me 'cause I'm still in it
So why don't you free me
'Cause its not my business
What he's done to me
Control is all you really need
And I can't believe it
I can't believe that
You didn't see me
Passing glances fall on me
Like screams on deaf ears
They're all laughing at me
With encouraging cheers
What he's done to me
Control is all you really need
And I can't believe it
I can't believe that
You wouldn't free me
Why don't you see me?
Why don't you free me?
I can't believe that
You don't believe me
I guess I had it comin'
My fault for not runnin'
I just dressed too tempting
'Cause your heads fuckin empty
And I can't believe it
I can't believe that you didn't see me
Aren't always on my mind
'Cause I didn't free them
The scenery is burning me 'cause I'm still in it
So why don't you free me
'Cause its not my business
What he's done to me
Control is all you really need
And I can't believe it
I can't believe that
You didn't see me
Passing glances fall on me
Like screams on deaf ears
They're all laughing at me
With encouraging cheers
What he's done to me
Control is all you really need
And I can't believe it
I can't believe that
You wouldn't free me
Why don't you see me?
Why don't you free me?
I can't believe that
You don't believe me
I guess I had it comin'
My fault for not runnin'
I just dressed too tempting
'Cause your heads fuckin empty
And I can't believe it
I can't believe that you didn't see me
Lyrics submitted by lemonie_fresh
Window Shopper Lyrics as written by Brandon Henry Kroeger Brandon Kroeger
Lyrics © Regard Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., ZERO-G MUSIC INC., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
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.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Slightly disappointed to see that nobody here has gotten it yet. It’s about rape.
The ending: “I guess I had it comin’ My fault for not runnin’ I just dressed too temptin’ Cause your head’s fuckin’ empty” is the most obvious example.
Other lines that clearly show the relation to rape:
“Passing glances fall on me Like screams in deaf ears They’re all laughing at me With encouraging cheers What he’s done to me Control is all you really need And I can’t believe it I can’t believe that you didn’t free me”
“Forever a lonely time and the dogs aren’t always Aren’t always on my mind Cause I didn’t free them The scenery is burning me Cause I’m still in it So why don’t you free me? Cause it’s not my business What he’s done to me”
The title “Window Shopper” refers to all the bystanders.
“Passing glances fall on me”
“They’re all laughing at me With encouraging cheers”
“Why don’t you see me? Why won’t you free me? I can’t believe that You don’t believe me”
@Isaiah8 I agree it sounds like it is about rape, at least a violent relationship (physical and sexual abuse). Your explanation seems to simply restate the lines though, which doesn't really explain your interpretation well.
Album: Curb (1996)
This song basically means that this girl goes around and picks guys up for the way they look and keeps them until she gets sick of them and what they gave her. She's a "window shopper", she picks people out to date. "I guess I had it coming...my fault for not running...I just dressed too tempting...cuz your head's fucking empty"
@mb20rox111 I don't see it this way at all. The woman is a victim of physical and sexual abuse ("So why don't you free me", "Control is all you really need", "What he's done to me", "I guess I had it comin'")<br /> <br /> The term window shopper is in reference to the passer bys (society). We often turn a blind eye to domestic violence, because we don't want to interfere with personal affairs ("Passing glances fall on me, Like screams on deaf ears")<br /> <br /> The lines:<br /> <br /> "I just dressed too tempting<br /> 'Cause your heads fuckin empty"<br /> <br /> Borrow straight from the culture of that a woman was "asking" to be raped because of how she dressed. That is it isn't the man's fault, as the woman should not have dressed to tempt them. The second line is a bit of commentary by Nickelback regarding what they think of that argument (that is, it is total bullshit).
I think it's talking about a girl whos a bit of a slut "I just dressed too tempting" and that her boyfriend is sick of it and has become over protective and shes saying she should have seen it coming..?
@DisneyPrincess-x totally disagree, the themes explored fit typical domestic violence / violent relationship stereotypes more so. People ignoring obvious signs as not wanting to get involved (window shoppers), victims blaming themselves for sexual assault because of how they dressed (a man can't help themselves, the woman shouldn't dress that way if she doesn't want a raping), and feeling like they have no control.