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.
It gives me Manray
It's what we like
It gives me Weston
Touch each other in black and white
Eia eia eieieia, eia eia eieieia, eia eia eieieia etc
Where did your hands go
When you thought I was your life
I could see his hands
They were touching you all night
And where did your hands go
When you thought I was your life
I could see his hands
They were touching you all night
Touching you all night night night
Touch yourself, touch yourself, touch each other in black and white
Touch yourself, touch yourself, touch each other in black and white
Touch yourself, touch yourself, touch each other in black and white
Touch yourself, touch yourself, touch each other in black and white
Give me Manray
It's what we like
Give me Weston
Touch each other in black and white
Touch yourself, touch yourself, touch each other in black and white
Touch yourself, touch yourself, touch each other in black and white
Touch yourself, touch yourself, touch each other in black and white
Touch yourself, touch yourself, touch each other in black and white
It's what we like
It gives me Weston
Touch each other in black and white
Eia eia eieieia, eia eia eieieia, eia eia eieieia etc
Where did your hands go
When you thought I was your life
I could see his hands
They were touching you all night
And where did your hands go
When you thought I was your life
I could see his hands
They were touching you all night
Touching you all night night night
Touch yourself, touch yourself, touch each other in black and white
Touch yourself, touch yourself, touch each other in black and white
Touch yourself, touch yourself, touch each other in black and white
Touch yourself, touch yourself, touch each other in black and white
Give me Manray
It's what we like
Give me Weston
Touch each other in black and white
Touch yourself, touch yourself, touch each other in black and white
Touch yourself, touch yourself, touch each other in black and white
Touch yourself, touch yourself, touch each other in black and white
Touch yourself, touch yourself, touch each other in black and white
Lyrics submitted by beastlordy
Man Ray Lyrics as written by David Craig Barry Hyde
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Here is an excerpt from a PopMatters review of the album that seems to clear it all up regarding Man Ray/Weston:
"Man Ray" namechecks photographic legends Man Ray and Edward Weston, but like a young Charles Thompson referencing Salvador Dali and Luis Bunuel, the meaning of the song is deliberately vague, the lyrical rhythms fitting well with the band's performance ("Touch yourself, touch yourself, touch each other in black and white").
(The "Charles Thompson" bit is a reference to the Pixies lead singer, who called himself Black Francis, and the song "Debaser," in case anybody didn't know.)
BTW, the review was glowing. As are all reviews of this record that I've read.
"Man Ray" has gradually become my favorite song on this album, too. I rock out to it frequently. Woo-hoo!