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.
Look what they done to my song, ma
Look what they done to my song
Well it's the only thing
That I could do half right
And it's turning out all wrong, ma
Look what they done to my song
Look what they done to my brain, ma
Look what they done to my brain
Well they picked it like a chicken bone
And I think I'm half insane, ma
Look what they done to my song
I wish I could find a good book to live in
Wish I could find a good book
Well if I could find a real good book
I'd never have to come out and look at
What they done to my song
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
Look what they done to my song
But maybe it'll all be alright, ma
Maybe it'll all be okay
Well if the people are buying tears
I'll be rich someday, ma
Look what they done to my song
Ils ont changé ma chanson, ma
Ils ont changé ma chanson
C'est la seule chose que je peux faire
Et ce n'est pas bon, ma.
Ils ont changé ma chanson.
Look what they done to my song, ma
Look what they done to my song
Well they tied it up in a plastic bag
And turned it upside down, ma
Look what they done to my song
Look what they done to my song, ma
Look what they done to my song
It's the only thing that I could do alright
And they turned it upside down
Oh ma
Look what they done to my song
Look what they done to my song
Well it's the only thing
That I could do half right
And it's turning out all wrong, ma
Look what they done to my song
Look what they done to my brain, ma
Look what they done to my brain
Well they picked it like a chicken bone
And I think I'm half insane, ma
Look what they done to my song
I wish I could find a good book to live in
Wish I could find a good book
Well if I could find a real good book
I'd never have to come out and look at
What they done to my song
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
La la la la la la la la la
Look what they done to my song
But maybe it'll all be alright, ma
Maybe it'll all be okay
Well if the people are buying tears
I'll be rich someday, ma
Look what they done to my song
Ils ont changé ma chanson, ma
Ils ont changé ma chanson
C'est la seule chose que je peux faire
Et ce n'est pas bon, ma.
Ils ont changé ma chanson.
Look what they done to my song, ma
Look what they done to my song
Well they tied it up in a plastic bag
And turned it upside down, ma
Look what they done to my song
Look what they done to my song, ma
Look what they done to my song
It's the only thing that I could do alright
And they turned it upside down
Oh ma
Look what they done to my song
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by BroWCarey
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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”
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
I can definitely see how it could be about the music industry, but another interpretation, I see it being about people judging a person. Their "song" represent's the person's self as a whole and at the end even goes to say it is their soul. They want to escape the criticism and judgement of everyone and at the end they adopt more of an optimistic mindset that although they can't fit in or escape judgement they will get through it.