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 take this all for granted
All the things they choose to feed you
By keeping you distracted
Just long enough to bleed you, dry
A reason for your anger
It's what I need
It's what I need
To recognize the truth
It's what I need
It's what I need
So burn your paper Jesus
It's what I need
It's what I need
And own the things you do
It's what I need
It's what I need
Question what they sell you
All the lies that they are teaching
And they've made a corporation
Out of desperate people's feelings, of fear
A reason for your anger
It's what I need
It's what I need
To recognize the truth
It's what I need
It's what I need
So burn your paper Jesus
It's what I need
It's what I need
And own the things you do
It's what I need
It's what I need
Somebody chose these words for you
Interpretations of the truth
Somewhere behind your fear they hide
To fill the holes inside
A reason for your anger
It's what I need
It's what I need
To recognize the truth
It's what I need
It's what I need
So burn your paper Jesus
It's what I need
It's what I need
And own the things you do
It's what I need
It's what I need
All the things they choose to feed you
By keeping you distracted
Just long enough to bleed you, dry
A reason for your anger
It's what I need
It's what I need
To recognize the truth
It's what I need
It's what I need
So burn your paper Jesus
It's what I need
It's what I need
And own the things you do
It's what I need
It's what I need
Question what they sell you
All the lies that they are teaching
And they've made a corporation
Out of desperate people's feelings, of fear
A reason for your anger
It's what I need
It's what I need
To recognize the truth
It's what I need
It's what I need
So burn your paper Jesus
It's what I need
It's what I need
And own the things you do
It's what I need
It's what I need
Somebody chose these words for you
Interpretations of the truth
Somewhere behind your fear they hide
To fill the holes inside
A reason for your anger
It's what I need
It's what I need
To recognize the truth
It's what I need
It's what I need
So burn your paper Jesus
It's what I need
It's what I need
And own the things you do
It's what I need
It's what I need
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
In this song i believe that Aaron is speaking out against "organized" religion, not just religion, he believes that he does not have to go to church every sunday or even at all, and that he can worship god in his own way.
My Interpretation of the lyrics:
You take this all for granted All the things they choose to feed you. By keeping you distracted Just long enough to bleed you... dry.
(you accept without question, whatever the church preaches to you. the church distracts you by making you feel like you are a bad person so you give them money so you think your a better person)
A reason for your anger It's what I need It's what I need To recognize the truth It's what I need It's what I need So burn your paper Jesus It's what I need It's what I need And own the things you do It's what I need It's what I need
-I am not satisfied with what i think about the chorus so I will have to think about it some more-
(He needs all these things obviously, so he wants a reason why people are mad, at others about their belifes, maybe. He needs to recognize the truth about religion. burn your paper jesus is a reference to money. thats the one thing i am sure of in the chorus)
Question what they sell you All the lies that they are teaching And they've made a corporation Out of desperate people's feelings... of fear.
(you should question what the church is trying to tell you as they lie alot, and they have made a corporation, any group of persons united or regarded as united in one body, out of people fearing life after death, or hell even.)
A reason for your anger It's what I need It's what I need To recognize the truth It's what I need It's what I need So burn your paper Jesus It's what I need It's what I need And own the things you do It's what I need It's what I need
Somebody chose these words for you, Interpretations of the truth. Somewhere behind your fear they hide To fill the holes inside.
(someone chose what you are saying, maybe pushing religion on others. the bible has been interpretated alot so who knows what really happend, this is just what they think is the truth. they hide behind your fear, again with the fear of life after death, some people feel an emptiness inside without religion.)
A reason for your anger It's what I need It's what I need To recognize the truth It's what I need It's what I need So burn your paper Jesus It's what I need It's what I need And own the things you do It's what I need It's what I need