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.
High times, and low times -
I over-estimated his capacity for love
Cause you shrugged it off
Like a too-tight overcoat
When I cut too close to the bone
I happened upon some letters I wrote
Though I never sent them
I've written ten thousand words
Which won't see the light of day
So they won't speak for me
When I say straight to your face:
"Well how many times
Do you have to change your clothes
Do you have to change your face
To fit in?"
Once we were much better than that
And we used to laugh
About people and their games
We were sideline junkies
Smitten by the way we could watch
But never play
"Well how many times
Do you have to change your clothes
Do you have to change your face
To fit in?"
Am I getting warm?
Or do I just leave you cold?
Do you ever wonder
How once I was there
But now I'm gone?
Do you miss me?
Do you miss me?
Well I can imagine what you must think
That I don't understand
Cause you're so complex it fucking hurts
And I'm just so so so sad
How many times
Do you have to change your clothes
Do you have to change your face
To fit in?
Am I getting warm?
Or do I just leave you cold?
Do you ever wonder
How once I was there
But now I'm gone?
Do you miss me?
Hey, do you miss me?
Shhhh... yeah
I over-estimated his capacity for love
Cause you shrugged it off
Like a too-tight overcoat
When I cut too close to the bone
I happened upon some letters I wrote
Though I never sent them
I've written ten thousand words
Which won't see the light of day
So they won't speak for me
When I say straight to your face:
"Well how many times
Do you have to change your clothes
Do you have to change your face
To fit in?"
Once we were much better than that
And we used to laugh
About people and their games
We were sideline junkies
Smitten by the way we could watch
But never play
"Well how many times
Do you have to change your clothes
Do you have to change your face
To fit in?"
Am I getting warm?
Or do I just leave you cold?
Do you ever wonder
How once I was there
But now I'm gone?
Do you miss me?
Do you miss me?
Well I can imagine what you must think
That I don't understand
Cause you're so complex it fucking hurts
And I'm just so so so sad
How many times
Do you have to change your clothes
Do you have to change your face
To fit in?
Am I getting warm?
Or do I just leave you cold?
Do you ever wonder
How once I was there
But now I'm gone?
Do you miss me?
Hey, do you miss me?
Shhhh... yeah
Lyrics submitted by dragonflyeyes
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