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.O.U. so many things
I.O.U. everything
But I can't repay you
And it's too late to save you
There really wasn't a choice
Seventeen was just too young
I couldn't hear your voice
I couldn't feel your living
I.O.U. so many things
I.O.U. everything
But I can't repay you
And it's too late to save you
My son, my mistake
My son, my mistake
I know you could have been a girl baby,
Now you can't be anything
We needed you to prove our love,
We used you, then we killed you
I.O.U. so many things
I.O.U. everything
But I can't repay you
And it's too late to save you
My son, my mistake
My son, my mistake
Right to life? Who decides?
Is there wrong and right?
When mom and dad treated you so bad
We made our own decisions,
No one else's business
We'll learn to live with our mistakes
Live by learning from our mistakes
My mistake
I.O.U. so many things
I.O.U. everything
But I can't repay you
And it's too late to save you
My son, my mistake
My son, (I owe you so many things) my mistake
My son, (I owe you so many things) my mistake
My son (I owe you so many things)
I.O.U. everything
But I can't repay you
And it's too late to save you
There really wasn't a choice
Seventeen was just too young
I couldn't hear your voice
I couldn't feel your living
I.O.U. so many things
I.O.U. everything
But I can't repay you
And it's too late to save you
My son, my mistake
My son, my mistake
I know you could have been a girl baby,
Now you can't be anything
We needed you to prove our love,
We used you, then we killed you
I.O.U. so many things
I.O.U. everything
But I can't repay you
And it's too late to save you
My son, my mistake
My son, my mistake
Right to life? Who decides?
Is there wrong and right?
When mom and dad treated you so bad
We made our own decisions,
No one else's business
We'll learn to live with our mistakes
Live by learning from our mistakes
My mistake
I.O.U. so many things
I.O.U. everything
But I can't repay you
And it's too late to save you
My son, my mistake
My son, (I owe you so many things) my mistake
My son, (I owe you so many things) my mistake
My son (I owe you so many things)
Lyrics submitted by punkpirate
Birthday I.O.U. Lyrics as written by John William Stevenson
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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