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.
Stole, stole
Oh, oh
Stole, stole
He was always such a nice boy
The quiet one, with good intentions
He was down for his brother, respectful to his mother
A good boy
But good don't get attention
One kid with a promise
The brightest kid in school, he's not a fool
Readin' books about science and smart stuff
It's not enough, no
'Cause smart don't make you cool, whoa
He's not invisible anymore
With his Father's nine and a broken fuse
Since he walked through that classroom door
He's all over prime-time news
Mary's got the same size hands as Marilyn Monroe
She put her fingers in the imprints
At Mann's Chinese Theater Show
She could've been a movie star
Never got the chance to go that far
Her life was stole, oh
Now we'll never know
(No, no, no, no, stole, stole, oh)
They were cryin' to the camera, said he never fitted in
He wasn't welcome
He showed up to the parties we was hangin' in
Some guys were puttin' him down, bullyin' him 'round, 'round
Now I wish I would've talked to him
Gave him the time of day and not turned away
If I would've been the one to maybe go this far
He might have stayed at home
Playin' angry chords on his guitar
He's not invisible anymore
With his baggy pants and his legs in chains
Since he walked through that classroom door
Everybody knows his name
Mary's got the same size hands as Marilyn Monroe (oh)
She put her fingers in the imprints (ooh)
At Mann's Chinese Theater Show (she could've been a movie star)
She could've been a movie star (oh-oh-oh)
Never got the chance to go that far (oh)
Her life was stole, oh
Now we'll never know (now we'll never know, oh)
Greg was always gettin' net from twenty feet away (twenty feet away)
He had a tryout with the Sixers, couldn't wait for Saturday (Saturday)
Now we're never gonna see him slam
Flyin' high as Kobe can
His life was stole, oh
Now we'll never know (now we'll never, never, never know)
Mm, now we'll never, never, never, never know
Stole, stole, stole
Stole, stole, stole, stole
Ooh-oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Mary's got the same size hands (same size hands) as Marilyn Monroe (oh-oh)
She put her fingers in the imprints
At Mann's Chinese Theater Show (she was gonna be a star, oh no)
She could've been a movie star
Never got the chance to go that far (never got the chance, yeah)
Her life was stole, oh (stole, stole)
Now we'll never know (now we'll never never know, no)
Greg was always gettin' net from twenty feet away (he had game, oh)
He had a tryout with the Sixers, couldn't wait for Saturday
Now we're never gonna see him slam (never see him)
Flyin' high as Kobe can
His life was stole, oh
Now we'll never know (now we'll never, never know, no)
Oh, no, no, no
Yeah, their lives were stole
Now we'll never know (stole, stole, stole)
We were here, all together, yesterday
(Stole, stole, stole)
Oh, oh
Stole, stole
He was always such a nice boy
The quiet one, with good intentions
He was down for his brother, respectful to his mother
A good boy
But good don't get attention
One kid with a promise
The brightest kid in school, he's not a fool
Readin' books about science and smart stuff
It's not enough, no
'Cause smart don't make you cool, whoa
He's not invisible anymore
With his Father's nine and a broken fuse
Since he walked through that classroom door
He's all over prime-time news
Mary's got the same size hands as Marilyn Monroe
She put her fingers in the imprints
At Mann's Chinese Theater Show
She could've been a movie star
Never got the chance to go that far
Her life was stole, oh
Now we'll never know
(No, no, no, no, stole, stole, oh)
They were cryin' to the camera, said he never fitted in
He wasn't welcome
He showed up to the parties we was hangin' in
Some guys were puttin' him down, bullyin' him 'round, 'round
Now I wish I would've talked to him
Gave him the time of day and not turned away
If I would've been the one to maybe go this far
He might have stayed at home
Playin' angry chords on his guitar
He's not invisible anymore
With his baggy pants and his legs in chains
Since he walked through that classroom door
Everybody knows his name
Mary's got the same size hands as Marilyn Monroe (oh)
She put her fingers in the imprints (ooh)
At Mann's Chinese Theater Show (she could've been a movie star)
She could've been a movie star (oh-oh-oh)
Never got the chance to go that far (oh)
Her life was stole, oh
Now we'll never know (now we'll never know, oh)
Greg was always gettin' net from twenty feet away (twenty feet away)
He had a tryout with the Sixers, couldn't wait for Saturday (Saturday)
Now we're never gonna see him slam
Flyin' high as Kobe can
His life was stole, oh
Now we'll never know (now we'll never, never, never know)
Mm, now we'll never, never, never, never know
Stole, stole, stole
Stole, stole, stole, stole
Ooh-oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Mary's got the same size hands (same size hands) as Marilyn Monroe (oh-oh)
She put her fingers in the imprints
At Mann's Chinese Theater Show (she was gonna be a star, oh no)
She could've been a movie star
Never got the chance to go that far (never got the chance, yeah)
Her life was stole, oh (stole, stole)
Now we'll never know (now we'll never never know, no)
Greg was always gettin' net from twenty feet away (he had game, oh)
He had a tryout with the Sixers, couldn't wait for Saturday
Now we're never gonna see him slam (never see him)
Flyin' high as Kobe can
His life was stole, oh
Now we'll never know (now we'll never, never know, no)
Oh, no, no, no
Yeah, their lives were stole
Now we'll never know (stole, stole, stole)
We were here, all together, yesterday
(Stole, stole, stole)
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
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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”
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
I'm pretty sure the guy at the beginning's life is all screwed up because he's bullied so much. So he takes his abusive father's guns and commits suicide in the bathroom.
ENTER MARY:
She hears the gunshot, and runs in and sees the kid dead. This REALLY screws her up, and she starts 'rebelling'(? is this the right word?) and she becomes pregnant in high school, ruining her chances of becoming famous.
Greg is playing basket ball when an opposing gang comes around their turf and they shoot him while he's vulnerable.
All in all.. I REALLY like this song, Kelly Rowland's voice is amazing. I was hooked since the 'Same sized hands' part, her voice on that note is absolutely perfect.