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.
Until you've been beside a man
You don't know what he wants
You don't know if he cries at night
You don't know if he don't
Where nothing comes easy, old nightmares are real
Until you've been beside a man
You don't know how he feels
Once inside a woman's heart
A man must keep his head
Heaven opens up the door
Where angels fear to tread
Some men go crazy, some men go slow
Some men go just where they want
Some men never go
Oh, blame it on midnight
Ooh, shame on the moon
Everywhere is all around
Comfort in the crowd
Stranger's faces all round
Laughing right out loud
Hey, watch where you're goin'
Step light on old toes
Until you've been beside a man
You don't know who he knows
Oh, blame it on midnight
Ooh, shame on the moon
Oh, blame it on midnight
Ooh, shame on the moon
Blame it on midnight
You can blame it on midnight
Shame, shame, shame, shame on the moon
Blame it on midnight
Shame on the moon
You don't know what he wants
You don't know if he cries at night
You don't know if he don't
Where nothing comes easy, old nightmares are real
Until you've been beside a man
You don't know how he feels
Once inside a woman's heart
A man must keep his head
Heaven opens up the door
Where angels fear to tread
Some men go crazy, some men go slow
Some men go just where they want
Some men never go
Oh, blame it on midnight
Ooh, shame on the moon
Everywhere is all around
Comfort in the crowd
Stranger's faces all round
Laughing right out loud
Hey, watch where you're goin'
Step light on old toes
Until you've been beside a man
You don't know who he knows
Oh, blame it on midnight
Ooh, shame on the moon
Oh, blame it on midnight
Ooh, shame on the moon
Blame it on midnight
You can blame it on midnight
Shame, shame, shame, shame on the moon
Blame it on midnight
Shame on the moon
Lyrics submitted by skatinghamstar
Shame on the Moon Lyrics as written by Rodney J. Crowell
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I'm at a loss when I try to find a meaning for all the three parts of this song. The first sounds addressed to women whereas the second to men. The first says "woman, if you don't stay beside your man you won't understand his feelings or who he really is, so a woman's task is be beside your man. The second part seems addressed to men: when a woman loves you, man (once inside a woman's heart), you man must be faithful to her (a man must keepo his head) even though temptations are all around you ("heaven opens up the door where angels fear to tread" sounds to me something like a sinful temptation - why should angels fear to tread in heaven if this heaven were holy and pure?). Once tempted by sex with other women some men go crazy and ruin their life and their woman's (some men go crazy), some others are careful (go slow), some others don't care at all (go just where they want) and finally some give it up at all (never go). Then the chorus seems to find the guilt of all these temptations and mess coming from them in midnight and the moon, symbols of languid love - men are lustful because not because they want to be like that but becuase of external involuntary influence (sex pulsions) symbolized by the moon and the night. Third part, harder for me to understand, and I leave it to you and ask for your help: everywhere it's all around: IT may refer to all that has been said so far - some people find comfort in a laughing crowd as they can't find it in their partner (either because he's unfaithful or because she doesn't stay beside his man). Then it says " don't quickly judge other people by starting from your old prejudice ("step light on old toes") because if you haven't been beside, near a man, you know nothing about the person he knows (you don't know who he knows) - help! I don't understand this!
@thestamp You nailed it, even alluding to human nature to blame bad outcomes on nearly anything but themselves. And Angels do fear to tread literally and figuratively.
@thestamp Dude...you \'nailed it\' (Thumbs Up)...you\'re a Blessed interpreter. Gonna post it near the \'the Memorial of passed-on Girl/Wife\'???? :(. She passed March 2020...always knew of Seger growing up, but just came across this \'Beloved tune\' just recently, to caption FB post of mine, with the YouTube link to this song ---to show and share where Im at ????. Thanks for this interpretation
My Sad Tearful Emoji disappeared to "????"...FYI
@thestamp👍, I think you 'Hit it' with somewhat of the first part...but mostly on the second part, BUT YOUR FIRST 2 SENTENCE ON IT only<br /> <br /> For you clearly shared translated it's about 'Love and Commitment, through Struggles' that I get about this great love song. The 3rd part I get from you---but it feels pc corrective about love on the first two done well by you.👍