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.
Way you look at me like that, something's got to give pretty soon
Throw it on a camel's back, something's got to give pretty soon
Living hard to chase the dream, way beyond our ways and means
Yours don't mean a goddamn thing.
That's what you said, but, don't believe it.
That shattered look upon your face, something's got to give pretty soon.
Swallow, but can't stand the taste, bark at the wind, chase the moon
Living fast and drinking lots. List of things we haven't got.
Tired of life with the have-nots
That's what you said and I believe it.
Maybe what you need's for someone to send you flowers
Someone strong and mean who can prove he has the power to
Show you more than charm and take you on your way
To where you want to be at the end of the day
And it breaks my heart in two to know it ain't meant to be
But, it ain't me,
It ain't me.
And you say it's these things I do, about me that's attracted you
So if I started doing something else, what would we have left.
And you say you just want compromise, then act so different all the time.
These reasons why you said goodbye, just another way of telling lies.
Something's got to give, got to give pretty soon
Or else we're gonna lose the very things that made it bloom
Sitting in silence in a cold and lonely room
While the world goes on around us
Something's got to give, got to give pretty soon
Or else we're gonna hate each other
And that would be the saddest thing I ever seen.
Throw it on a camel's back, something's got to give pretty soon
Living hard to chase the dream, way beyond our ways and means
Yours don't mean a goddamn thing.
That's what you said, but, don't believe it.
That shattered look upon your face, something's got to give pretty soon.
Swallow, but can't stand the taste, bark at the wind, chase the moon
Living fast and drinking lots. List of things we haven't got.
Tired of life with the have-nots
That's what you said and I believe it.
Maybe what you need's for someone to send you flowers
Someone strong and mean who can prove he has the power to
Show you more than charm and take you on your way
To where you want to be at the end of the day
And it breaks my heart in two to know it ain't meant to be
But, it ain't me,
It ain't me.
And you say it's these things I do, about me that's attracted you
So if I started doing something else, what would we have left.
And you say you just want compromise, then act so different all the time.
These reasons why you said goodbye, just another way of telling lies.
Something's got to give, got to give pretty soon
Or else we're gonna lose the very things that made it bloom
Sitting in silence in a cold and lonely room
While the world goes on around us
Something's got to give, got to give pretty soon
Or else we're gonna hate each other
And that would be the saddest thing I ever seen.
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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.
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I don't see it like that. to me the song is about people whose lives aren't what they thought they would be. The guy is chasing his dreams and they are barely making it. she says her dreams don't matter, but he knows better. she looks at him and he can see it in the look on her face. there are aot of hard descisions that they have to make, but they keep moving on. He knows that she deserves better and he regrets that he isn't the one that can give her what he thinks she deserves. He wonders if the relationship is strong enough to last through the hardships. once all the things that attracted her to him wear away. they fight alot and he thinks that she makes up excuses to get out of the house. if they don't started doing things differently, they will lose the relationship, which would be terrible.