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.
When I was a young boy I was honest and I had more self-
Control if I was tempted I would run
Then when I got older I began to lie to get exactly
What I wanted when I wanted it
And I wanted it
Now I'm having trouble differentiating between what I
Want and what I need to make me happy,
So instead of thinking, I just act before I have a chance to
Contemplate the consequence of action
And I will turn off
And I will shut down
Burying the voices of my conscience hitting ground
And I will turn off
And I will shut down
The chemicals are restless in my head
Cause I lie
Not because I want to
But I seem to need to all the time
Yeah, I lie
And I don't even know it
Maybe this all a part of my
Flawed design
And ever since I figured out that I could control other people
I've had trouble sleeping with both eyes closed
And if I ask permission, if I make sure it's okay,
I promise I won't slip up this time, you can trust me
But never take advice from someone who just admitted to being devious, who just confessed to treason
And I would ask you never a question that I cannot ask myself
For it might dirty up your conscience
Cause I lie
Not because I want to
But I seem to need to all the time
Yeah, I lie
And I don't even know it
Maybe this all a part of my
How can you say those things? Why can't you just believe?
How can you say those things and keep a straight face?
How can you say those things? Why can't we just believe?
How can you say those things and keep a straight face?
And I will turn off
And I will shut down
Burying the voices of my conscience hitting ground
And I will turn off
And I will shut down
The chemicals are restless in my head
Cause I lie
Not because I want to
But I seem to need to all the time
Yeah, I lie
And I don't even know it
Maybe this all a part of my
Cause I lie
And if I could control it
Maybe I could leave it all behind
Yeah, I lie
And I don't even know it
Maybe this is all a part of my
Flawed design
Control if I was tempted I would run
Then when I got older I began to lie to get exactly
What I wanted when I wanted it
And I wanted it
Now I'm having trouble differentiating between what I
Want and what I need to make me happy,
So instead of thinking, I just act before I have a chance to
Contemplate the consequence of action
And I will turn off
And I will shut down
Burying the voices of my conscience hitting ground
And I will turn off
And I will shut down
The chemicals are restless in my head
Cause I lie
Not because I want to
But I seem to need to all the time
Yeah, I lie
And I don't even know it
Maybe this all a part of my
Flawed design
And ever since I figured out that I could control other people
I've had trouble sleeping with both eyes closed
And if I ask permission, if I make sure it's okay,
I promise I won't slip up this time, you can trust me
But never take advice from someone who just admitted to being devious, who just confessed to treason
And I would ask you never a question that I cannot ask myself
For it might dirty up your conscience
Cause I lie
Not because I want to
But I seem to need to all the time
Yeah, I lie
And I don't even know it
Maybe this all a part of my
How can you say those things? Why can't you just believe?
How can you say those things and keep a straight face?
How can you say those things? Why can't we just believe?
How can you say those things and keep a straight face?
And I will turn off
And I will shut down
Burying the voices of my conscience hitting ground
And I will turn off
And I will shut down
The chemicals are restless in my head
Cause I lie
Not because I want to
But I seem to need to all the time
Yeah, I lie
And I don't even know it
Maybe this all a part of my
Cause I lie
And if I could control it
Maybe I could leave it all behind
Yeah, I lie
And I don't even know it
Maybe this is all a part of my
Flawed design
Lyrics submitted by yakasushii
Flawed Design Lyrics as written by Christopher John Moerman Chris Moerman
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I agree with hogkill2. To reiterate: I think this song is about someone who manipulates everybody around him to get exactly what he wants. He ignores morality and doesn't care about the repricussions. In short, he's a compulsive liar.