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 buck
I tried to be liked by
Everyone
Everyone
I tried so hard to be funny and nice
I tried so hard to be sugar and spice
Didn't work for me
Got old quickly
But now I'm not losing sleep at night
No one's calling me on the telephone
To see if I'm at home
'Cause now I've got everything that I have ever wanted, or so it seems
Yeah, so it seems, yeah
[Chorus]
You don't
Have to
Like me
Anymore
I've got money now
I don't care
What you say
About me
Anymore
I've got money now
When I got a little older
I realized
It's all lies
There is no prize
There is no prize
There is no heartache if you can afford
Everything delivered right to your door
Responsibilities
This life is easy
So, now, girl with everything
How could she complain?
Cause she's got it made
Yeah, she's got it made
I don't need to be tucked in at night
Told that everything is gonna be alright
Is gonna be alright
'Cause I don't have to fight
[Chorus]
I wouldn't trade a dollar for some sense
I wouldn't trade a lifetime for some friends
I've got everything
And all is what it seems
I worked so hard all of my life
Just to have things I could call mine
I don't need no love
Cause I have got enough
So, now I don't mind being alone all the time
It's alright
I've got money now
That's what it's all about
And I'm so busy buying things and traveling the world
I don't have time for friends
Or family
And that's fine with me
So it seems
[Chorus: x2]
I tried to be liked by
Everyone
Everyone
I tried so hard to be funny and nice
I tried so hard to be sugar and spice
Didn't work for me
Got old quickly
But now I'm not losing sleep at night
No one's calling me on the telephone
To see if I'm at home
'Cause now I've got everything that I have ever wanted, or so it seems
Yeah, so it seems, yeah
[Chorus]
You don't
Have to
Like me
Anymore
I've got money now
I don't care
What you say
About me
Anymore
I've got money now
When I got a little older
I realized
It's all lies
There is no prize
There is no prize
There is no heartache if you can afford
Everything delivered right to your door
Responsibilities
This life is easy
So, now, girl with everything
How could she complain?
Cause she's got it made
Yeah, she's got it made
I don't need to be tucked in at night
Told that everything is gonna be alright
Is gonna be alright
'Cause I don't have to fight
[Chorus]
I wouldn't trade a dollar for some sense
I wouldn't trade a lifetime for some friends
I've got everything
And all is what it seems
I worked so hard all of my life
Just to have things I could call mine
I don't need no love
Cause I have got enough
So, now I don't mind being alone all the time
It's alright
I've got money now
That's what it's all about
And I'm so busy buying things and traveling the world
I don't have time for friends
Or family
And that's fine with me
So it seems
[Chorus: x2]
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