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.
I've been hiding, hiding for so long
Right behind my digital mask
I've been trying to be someone I'm not
All these perfectly fake people push us to insane ideals
They're nothing more than counterfeit images
That push me away, to bleed out the pain
Don't you dare make another move
[Chorus]
Put the knife away, that's not what anybody needs
There's a better way than everything now that you see
Stop comparing who you are to who you want to be
Let's step out beyond the surface
Don't give in to everything the world around tells you to be
Open up your mind release yourself
Stop the lying, stop comparing who you are to what you see
Never letting fear hold back the change
And push you away, to bleed out the pain
Don't you dare make another move
Right behind my digital mask
I've been trying to be someone I'm not
All these perfectly fake people push us to insane ideals
They're nothing more than counterfeit images
That push me away, to bleed out the pain
Don't you dare make another move
[Chorus]
Put the knife away, that's not what anybody needs
There's a better way than everything now that you see
Stop comparing who you are to who you want to be
Let's step out beyond the surface
Don't give in to everything the world around tells you to be
Open up your mind release yourself
Stop the lying, stop comparing who you are to what you see
Never letting fear hold back the change
And push you away, to bleed out the pain
Don't you dare make another move
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In terms of what this song means to me, it seems to be referring to self-harm as a result of not matching up with the picture perfect images of the magazines. The song seems to be saying that these perfect images are not real - they are airbrushed, and the writer cries out to the listener not to compare themselves with these unrealistic ideals. The chorus cries particularly to someone sitting with a knife, feeling such worthlessness and self-hate at being unable to match these ideals that he/she plans to cut themselves, whether as self-harm or as a suicide attempt. The artist appeals to the person to "put the knife away, thats not what anybody needs, there';s a better way". Instead of comparing ourselves to magazine images, the 2nd verse tells us to be our true selves.