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.
You called me from the room in your hotel
All full of romance for someone that you met
And telling me how sorry you were, leaving so soon
And that you miss me sometimes when you're alone in your room
Do I feel lonely too?
You have no right to ask me how I feel
You have no right to speak to me so kind
I can't go on just holding on to ties
Now that we're living separate lives
Well, I held on to let you go
And if you lost your love for me, well you never let it show
There was no way to compromise
So now we're living (living)
Separate lives
Ooh, it's so typical, love leads to isolation
So you build that wall (build that wall)
Yes, you build that wall (build that wall)
And you make it stronger
Well, you have no right to ask me how I feel
You have no right to speak to me so kind
Some day I might (I might) find myself looking in your eyes
But for now, we'll go on living separate lives
Yes for now, we'll go on living separate lives
Separate lives
All full of romance for someone that you met
And telling me how sorry you were, leaving so soon
And that you miss me sometimes when you're alone in your room
Do I feel lonely too?
You have no right to ask me how I feel
You have no right to speak to me so kind
I can't go on just holding on to ties
Now that we're living separate lives
Well, I held on to let you go
And if you lost your love for me, well you never let it show
There was no way to compromise
So now we're living (living)
Separate lives
Ooh, it's so typical, love leads to isolation
So you build that wall (build that wall)
Yes, you build that wall (build that wall)
And you make it stronger
Well, you have no right to ask me how I feel
You have no right to speak to me so kind
Some day I might (I might) find myself looking in your eyes
But for now, we'll go on living separate lives
Yes for now, we'll go on living separate lives
Separate lives
Lyrics submitted by traviswrdunbar
Separate Lives Lyrics as written by Steve Bishop
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Okay, I am not sure if no one is commenting because the lyrics say it all, or because they have never heard this song.
Anyway, I have talked to a lot of friends who have had breakups, and a lot of them say the same thing. The girl who just dumped them expects the relationship to stay close and for them to be best friends.
To me, this song is saying what is really in the mind of all those guys. I consider myself pretty forgiving, but I would feel exactly as this song says, that she has no right to act as if nothing is different.
I love how their voices belnd together. I think it's a beautiful song.
Well this is the first time I've posted on this site after reading so many lyrics my ex posted on Napster; her way of cryptic communication in the history field to hopefully get a positive response from me to fuel her Narcissistic Personality Disorder traits. This song is so fitting for me, it really helps me to move along. My ex before we parted had a guy set up to help fuel her egotistical side, from what I can read into, she wants me to sit on the sidelines as her friend and watch me suffer. I'm known by my own family and friends to be an extremely nice guy buy my ex tried to condition me to believe otherwise. I'm hoping this has sent the correct message back to show to her, if you love someone then you totally respect them, but then again someone with NPD have no empathy for other people's suffering. If anyone else has ever had to suffer this kind of ordeal, then from my Heart to Yours and run for the hills and never look back.
Wow. Can your heart really be THAT hard? This is an amazing song which musically and lyrically speaks to an experience that all of us have had. I mean most of us....
Another powerful song. Great song.
Sometime It's the wrong place, wrong time, and wrong circumstance.
absolute cringeworthy 80s standard. As usual with any phil collins song there is no substance to be found in this laughable duet.
@sivilla Not written by Phil Collins. Just performed by him and Marilyn Martin as part of the sound track for the film White Nights, and with lyrics that make sense in the context of its plot….