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.
You. You were a friend
You were a friend of mine I let you spend the night
You see how it was my fault
Of course it was mine
I'm too hard at work
Have you ever heard of anything so absurd ever in your life
I'm sorry for wasting your time
Who am I to say this situation isn't great?
It's my job to make the most of it
Of course I didn't know that it would happen to me
Not that easy
Hey what's that you say?
You're not blaming me for anything that's great
But I don't break that easy
Does it fade away?
So that's why I'm apologizing now for telling you I thought that we could make it
I just don't get enough to believe that we've both changed
Who am I to say this situation isn't great? It's my time to make the most of it
How could I ever know that this would happen to me, not that easy, no
All along the fault is up for grabs why don't you have it
Well it's for sale go make your offer, I'll sell it for no less than what I bought it for
Pay no more than absolutely zero
Well neither one of us deserves the blame because opportunities moved us away
And it's not an easy thing to learn to play a game that's made for two that's you and me
The rules remain a mystery. See it can be easy
Who am I to say this situation isn't great? It's our time to make the most of it
How could we ever know that this would happen to me, not that easy, no
All along the fault is up for grabs and there you have it
Well it's for sale go make your offer, I'll sell it for no less than what I bought it for
Pay no more than absolutely zero
You were a friend of mine I let you spend the night
You see how it was my fault
Of course it was mine
I'm too hard at work
Have you ever heard of anything so absurd ever in your life
I'm sorry for wasting your time
Who am I to say this situation isn't great?
It's my job to make the most of it
Of course I didn't know that it would happen to me
Not that easy
Hey what's that you say?
You're not blaming me for anything that's great
But I don't break that easy
Does it fade away?
So that's why I'm apologizing now for telling you I thought that we could make it
I just don't get enough to believe that we've both changed
Who am I to say this situation isn't great? It's my time to make the most of it
How could I ever know that this would happen to me, not that easy, no
All along the fault is up for grabs why don't you have it
Well it's for sale go make your offer, I'll sell it for no less than what I bought it for
Pay no more than absolutely zero
Well neither one of us deserves the blame because opportunities moved us away
And it's not an easy thing to learn to play a game that's made for two that's you and me
The rules remain a mystery. See it can be easy
Who am I to say this situation isn't great? It's our time to make the most of it
How could we ever know that this would happen to me, not that easy, no
All along the fault is up for grabs and there you have it
Well it's for sale go make your offer, I'll sell it for no less than what I bought it for
Pay no more than absolutely zero
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.
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
You guys have it ALL wrong!! It's about two childhood friends. The type of childhood friend that is the opposite sex, but are so close to. But the complications of love and lust have not yet developed. Their friendship is simple. They'd spend the night at eachother's houses and it wasn't a big deal. They grow up and fall in love with eachother over the years. But somewhere, things began to get complicated as they grew up and they lost touch without even realizing it....I'm too hard at work, have you ever heard of anything so absurd? He's saying that it's not an excuse to lose something so precious over something so ridiculous. Now, their friendship is nothing...they let it slip away. It's worth absolutely zero.
it is! its sad... yet great how he's all like well i'll make the most of it... jason mraz is AMRAZING!!!
The guy is falling over a girl and he didn't think it would happen that easy. It sounds like the window is shutting on this situation and it's neither persons fault that he's attracted, she didn't lead him on, he doesn't think he's out of his mind for liking her. and overall loves hard to find out but even though it's not perfect he thinks what they have is still priceless
i love this song.. but its so sad :'(
Falling for you best friend, when she(he) isn't single. "thungs" happen. She(he) feels guilty. Friendship is never the same. Basiclly ruiened.
yeah....she spent the night at his house, and i think she might have gotten pregnant, or maybe he said something wrong and it ruined their friendship
i love this song. unfortunately, i'm quite new to deciphering song meanings.. and haven't reached a conclusion of my own that satisfies me. i'm led to believe that this song is written by a heartbroken guy who ended up falling for a good friend. there in lies the dilemma.. they crossed the line from friends into lovers and for some reason or another it's not working out and he's hurting... trying to place blame somewhere.. apologizing for "wasting your time" - and lamenting over the game of love and how the "rules remain a msytery".
anyways - what do you all think the blame is all about? i love this song.. it's so sexy.. haunting.. mellow.. and more adjectives that are not presently in my working vocabulary that probably describe how this song makes me feel better than i just did. :)
i think you guys arent quite right....i think its about how he met this great gurl while he was making the album ..."I'm too hard at work" and it was "his fault" cuz he thougth that he could be making an album and be dating this gurl, yet he couldnt and has to go for this album cuz he's been waiting for it for all his life: "Who am I to say this situation isn't great? It's my job to make the most of it Of course I didn't know that it would happen to me."
It says it all really....
i think this song is really sad. isnt it about a guy who led his female friend on, but he doesnt really have the time/heart? he feels bad about it and wants to take the blame but shes so complacent that she doesnt get angry at him.. and in the end it just doesnt work.. probably ends up being really awkward in the end..
i