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.
By now
I should have been somewhere
Or gone to school, or fixed my hair
Back down
Tell it to someone else
Who gives a shit and needs your help
Cause I found
What I needed
And I don't need you to tell me how you feel
And if I fall
You are not the one that has to cope and deal
All my problems are for me
My god
Look at his tattoos and those earrings
He could never get
A good job
Go home and beat your kids
So they don't turn out as bad as me
Cause I found
What I needed
And I don't need you to tell me how you feel
And if I fall
You are not the one that has to cope and deal
All my problems are for me
I don't need your eyes to see
I will be what I will be
Stop coming around cause you bother me
Stupid motherfucker pull your head out your ass and see
What don't you get, was I stuttering
I don't need to take your shit get away from me
I should have been somewhere
Or gone to school, or fixed my hair
Back down
Tell it to someone else
Who gives a shit and needs your help
Cause I found
What I needed
And I don't need you to tell me how you feel
And if I fall
You are not the one that has to cope and deal
All my problems are for me
My god
Look at his tattoos and those earrings
He could never get
A good job
Go home and beat your kids
So they don't turn out as bad as me
Cause I found
What I needed
And I don't need you to tell me how you feel
And if I fall
You are not the one that has to cope and deal
All my problems are for me
I don't need your eyes to see
I will be what I will be
Stop coming around cause you bother me
Stupid motherfucker pull your head out your ass and see
What don't you get, was I stuttering
I don't need to take your shit get away from me
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great song its the truth you want to be you and everybody comes around to tell you that since you have tattoos or earings that your not going to get a good job but i like the lines:"and if i fall you are not the one that has to cope and deal"
I agree with wiredmonkiekiller, people always tell you what to do or how to be, but at the end they are the last ones to help you with your problems, and i hate to be pointed because of my apearance.
I love this song because everytime I hear I jsut wan tto get up and start screaming the lyrics.
This part "go home and beat your kids so they don't turn out as bad as me" made me mad though. Stupid parents.
I agree with what's already said, the song's about judging people by their appearence. Just because you have tattoos and piercings and shit, doesn't mean you're going to end up like a bum and going nowhere in life. It's also about people getting into other people's business and trying to help when they only make things worse.
to me, it means no matter what he's smart enough to know that no matter what chooses in life, there will be consequences, and at his own responsiblity. and he knows that he can face them by himself. Also, i feel he's telling his parents or telling people to tell their parents aswell as other adults who are opposite of him, to fiuck off and let him learn for himself.
This song just makes u want to beat the hell out of all the judgemental people that try to tell u how to live and look. It really hits the spot. Its your life live it how u want!
I think this song is more about that this is my life and i dont need all these people to tell me how to deal...People are always telling you how to live your life and what to NOT do and what you can do and that is BS and i agree with every 1 else on this i just believe there is more to the song then just the apperance and such
This song directly means to live your live and not care about being judged. Fuck what other people say, It's your life, live it the way YOU want to, not some little shit.
Okay, this next part you dont have to read but if you want to than okay.
I mean i'm a victem of this every day. I'm what people would call "emo" and i get razed alllll the time, but I mean it's my life, I'll live it the way I want to. I mean the whole cutting and depression thing is such a big steryotype. This song makes me feel better when i get made fun of for that. It also makes me wanna kick the ignorant people and the predjadice people in the balls. Seriously, we all hate it. People shouldn't tell others how to live thier life. They should be concerend with their own life before they talk shit about ours. People live diferent lives and do things diferently, I dont see why people have to bud in and try and change that. It's not up to them. To everyone, If some little cunt calls your favorite sweater or whatever lame or gay and tells you to take it off, instead of takeing it off, kick him square in the balls. If it's a girl, then be creative, but nothing physical stuff. anyways, live your life the way YOU want to, and who cares if your diferent. being unique is special. There arn't enough unique people in society todat. everyones uniform. Be diferent, Live your life free and the way you want it.