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.
I see the real you
You put me in my place
Close to perfection
You’re out of control; you’re out of control
Pardon me I feel the need to scream
I’m ill Stuck in the chemical abyss
I’m gripping at the walls around me
Pardon me if I was laughing at the crimes
I was laughing at the way you lie
Tell me why
All my lies come down to this
‘Cause I don’t need friends who try to wrap me up in red tape
Get ‘em off my back they’re dead weight
In case you didn’t catch my signs the first time let me tell you again
All my life I tried to explain how I love myself to release the pain
Anti-magnetic so quit your b*****g, lying, crying
Tell me why
Lately inside I’m giving in to revenge
Tell me why I’m in over my head
Why I’m in over my head
I’m in so deep that
When I wake up I don’t wanna know you
Tell me my name again
You’re just a beautiful disgrace
A beautiful disgrace
A beautiful disgrace
Come with me so I can show you how to live
Burning the candle at both ends
I’m gripping at the walls around me
Don’t complicate it
I’m addicted to this life
I’ll be your token of attention
All my lies come down to this
Lately inside I’m giving in to revenge
Tell me why I’m in over my head
Why I’m in over my head
I’m in so deep that
Lately inside I’m giving in to revenge
Tell me why I’m in over my head
Why I’m in over my head
I see the real you
You put me in my place
Close to perfection
You’re out of control
I see the real you
I saw through everything
Close to perfection
I saw through everything
If I could take away this pain
Just one more time, I might
I saw through everything
Tell me why I’m in over my head
When I wake up I don’t wanna know you
Tell me my name again
You’re just a beautiful disgrace
Such a beautiful disgrace
Disgrace, disgrace
You’re such a beautiful disgrace
You’re so vain, vain, vain
So grow your guilt from another vine
I’ve given this enough time (lately inside I’m giving in)
Grow your guilt from another vine
I’ve given this enough time (lately inside I’m giving in)
Grow your guilt from another vine
I’ve given this enough time (tell me why I’m in)
Grow your guilt from another vine
I’ve given this enough time
Grow your guilt you’re a beautiful
Disgrace, (disgrace, disgrace)
Such a beautiful disgrace
You’re so vain, vain, disgrace
You put me in my place
Close to perfection
You’re out of control; you’re out of control
Pardon me I feel the need to scream
I’m ill Stuck in the chemical abyss
I’m gripping at the walls around me
Pardon me if I was laughing at the crimes
I was laughing at the way you lie
Tell me why
All my lies come down to this
‘Cause I don’t need friends who try to wrap me up in red tape
Get ‘em off my back they’re dead weight
In case you didn’t catch my signs the first time let me tell you again
All my life I tried to explain how I love myself to release the pain
Anti-magnetic so quit your b*****g, lying, crying
Tell me why
Lately inside I’m giving in to revenge
Tell me why I’m in over my head
Why I’m in over my head
I’m in so deep that
When I wake up I don’t wanna know you
Tell me my name again
You’re just a beautiful disgrace
A beautiful disgrace
A beautiful disgrace
Come with me so I can show you how to live
Burning the candle at both ends
I’m gripping at the walls around me
Don’t complicate it
I’m addicted to this life
I’ll be your token of attention
All my lies come down to this
Lately inside I’m giving in to revenge
Tell me why I’m in over my head
Why I’m in over my head
I’m in so deep that
Lately inside I’m giving in to revenge
Tell me why I’m in over my head
Why I’m in over my head
I see the real you
You put me in my place
Close to perfection
You’re out of control
I see the real you
I saw through everything
Close to perfection
I saw through everything
If I could take away this pain
Just one more time, I might
I saw through everything
Tell me why I’m in over my head
When I wake up I don’t wanna know you
Tell me my name again
You’re just a beautiful disgrace
Such a beautiful disgrace
Disgrace, disgrace
You’re such a beautiful disgrace
You’re so vain, vain, vain
So grow your guilt from another vine
I’ve given this enough time (lately inside I’m giving in)
Grow your guilt from another vine
I’ve given this enough time (lately inside I’m giving in)
Grow your guilt from another vine
I’ve given this enough time (tell me why I’m in)
Grow your guilt from another vine
I’ve given this enough time
Grow your guilt you’re a beautiful
Disgrace, (disgrace, disgrace)
Such a beautiful disgrace
You’re so vain, vain, disgrace
Lyrics submitted by gizmo12688
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i totally agree! I love it when Jay sings "If I could take away this pain just one more time, I might. I saw through everything. Now tell me why am I over my head?" joy!