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.
If you wanna stay with me
At your liberty
If you wanna be with me
At your liberty
Yeah, oh
I'll tell you something
To let you understand the way I feel
Just what you mean to me
Thank you for fine times
We nearly made it all the way but no
It wasn't meant to be
You say we feel the same
There ain't no blame to decide
But if a little time could change your mind
I'll be here
And you can call me
If you wanna stay with me
At your liberty
You can hold me
If you wanna be with me
At your liberty
Do you, do you, do you remember? Remember
How lovers ripe on summer's heathen night
Would never seem to end?
And does December December
Come stirring with that finger of desire desire
To feel it once again?
You worry 'bout your friends
But if they find what's going on what's going on
But if you wanna try to make it come alive
I'll be here
And you can call me
If you wanna stay with me
At your liberty
You can hold me
If you wanna be with me
At your liberty
And you can call me
If you wanna stay with me
At your liberty
And you can touch me, girl
If you wanna run to me
At your liberty
Help me out
I live in doubt
Sort me out
Yeah
Don't make it every night
Don't want to be the love of your life
So if you are inclined
To spend a little time
I'll be here
And you can call me
If you wanna stay with me
At your liberty
You can hold me
If you wanna be with me
At your liberty
And you can call me
If you want to stay with me
At your liberty
And you can touch me, girl
If you wanna run to me
At your liberty
Touch me, girl
If you want to stay with me
At your liberty
Help me out
If you wanna be with me
At your liberty
Search me out
If you wanna come to me
At your liberty
Oh you can set me free
If you wanna run to me
At your liberty
If you wanna stay with me
At your liberty
If you wanna be with me
At your liberty
If you wanna stay with me
At your liberty
If you wanna run to me
At your liberty
At your liberty
At your liberty
At your liberty
If you wanna be with me
At your liberty
Yeah, oh
I'll tell you something
To let you understand the way I feel
Just what you mean to me
Thank you for fine times
We nearly made it all the way but no
It wasn't meant to be
You say we feel the same
There ain't no blame to decide
But if a little time could change your mind
I'll be here
And you can call me
If you wanna stay with me
At your liberty
You can hold me
If you wanna be with me
At your liberty
Do you, do you, do you remember? Remember
How lovers ripe on summer's heathen night
Would never seem to end?
And does December December
Come stirring with that finger of desire desire
To feel it once again?
You worry 'bout your friends
But if they find what's going on what's going on
But if you wanna try to make it come alive
I'll be here
And you can call me
If you wanna stay with me
At your liberty
You can hold me
If you wanna be with me
At your liberty
And you can call me
If you wanna stay with me
At your liberty
And you can touch me, girl
If you wanna run to me
At your liberty
Help me out
I live in doubt
Sort me out
Yeah
Don't make it every night
Don't want to be the love of your life
So if you are inclined
To spend a little time
I'll be here
And you can call me
If you wanna stay with me
At your liberty
You can hold me
If you wanna be with me
At your liberty
And you can call me
If you want to stay with me
At your liberty
And you can touch me, girl
If you wanna run to me
At your liberty
Touch me, girl
If you want to stay with me
At your liberty
Help me out
If you wanna be with me
At your liberty
Search me out
If you wanna come to me
At your liberty
Oh you can set me free
If you wanna run to me
At your liberty
If you wanna stay with me
At your liberty
If you wanna be with me
At your liberty
If you wanna stay with me
At your liberty
If you wanna run to me
At your liberty
At your liberty
At your liberty
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.
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”
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."
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."
"Don't make it every night, don't wanna be the love Of your life" Damn! How diferent if you compare this line with the tipical romantic lyrics kinda "I'll love you for ever and I'll be always by your side" and that kind of crap... Simon is talking about a relationship in a realistic way. This girls feels insecure about them, try to hide to her friends that they're dating and stuff like that. So Simon says "Hey, relax. Let's just have fun and enjoy to be together and when it ends... it just ends". Love is not forever. Nothing is forever. And many times, when you think too much if your relationship is going nowhere or will end soon, you can't enjoy it.
Awesome, like always. DD are still the best!