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're pulling out your teeth
And I'm the Novocaine you pump in your cheek
That's why I'm still around, you've got blood running down your chin
But you suffered peacefully
She was a termite
Eating away at my roots
I was just a lost soul who needed a home
I was filling a void with you
And I can't, can't wait
Till you've see see seen
What death and disgust
Have done to me
And I spent three years
Wishing for two things
That one day you'd break
And I'd get to see
How all the choices you've made
Would drive you insane
I wish we never met
As angry as I sound
That's just the way I cover up, the way I feel
I've been that way for years and years
Slave to broken hearts and sex appeal
And she was a termite
Eating away at my roots
I was just a lost soul who needed a home
I was filling a void with you
And I can't, can't wait
Till you've see see seen
What death and disgust
Have done to me
And I spent three years
Wishing for two things
That one day you'd break
And I'd get to see
How all the choices you've made
Would drive you insane
I wish we never met
She was a termite
Eating away at my roots
I was just a lost soul who needed a home
I was filling a void with you
And I can't, can't wait
Till you've see see seen
What death and disgust
Have done to me
And I spent three years
Wishing for two things
That one day you'd break
And I'd get to see
How all the choices you've made
Would drive you insane
I wish we never met
And I'm the Novocaine you pump in your cheek
That's why I'm still around, you've got blood running down your chin
But you suffered peacefully
She was a termite
Eating away at my roots
I was just a lost soul who needed a home
I was filling a void with you
And I can't, can't wait
Till you've see see seen
What death and disgust
Have done to me
And I spent three years
Wishing for two things
That one day you'd break
And I'd get to see
How all the choices you've made
Would drive you insane
I wish we never met
As angry as I sound
That's just the way I cover up, the way I feel
I've been that way for years and years
Slave to broken hearts and sex appeal
And she was a termite
Eating away at my roots
I was just a lost soul who needed a home
I was filling a void with you
And I can't, can't wait
Till you've see see seen
What death and disgust
Have done to me
And I spent three years
Wishing for two things
That one day you'd break
And I'd get to see
How all the choices you've made
Would drive you insane
I wish we never met
She was a termite
Eating away at my roots
I was just a lost soul who needed a home
I was filling a void with you
And I can't, can't wait
Till you've see see seen
What death and disgust
Have done to me
And I spent three years
Wishing for two things
That one day you'd break
And I'd get to see
How all the choices you've made
Would drive you insane
I wish we never met
Lyrics submitted by SomthinCorporat
They're Not Horses, They're Unicorns Lyrics as written by Christopher John Guglielmo Anthony S Raneri
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
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yeah, its impossible not to wanna throw up some horns when you hear that riff, and as for the title, ummmm all i can think is how unicorns are like fake prettier horses and how prettier girls can be fake? thats a pretty lame guess but its what i came up with
ha, i no, i hear that riff in my sleep!
its pretty obvious the song's about a relationship. the first verse, is, i think, talking about how she is in a lot of emotional pain and he's keeping her sane, being her novicane. the next line is refering to a past relationship (he uses the pronoun "she") that destroyed him. but the girl that most of the song's about helped him get over that last relationship [i was just a lost soul who needed a home, i was filling a void with you] and helping her with her problems made him feel complete. but she creates her own problems with the bad decisions she makes, so he can't really herlp her, [That one day you'd break and I'd get see, How all the choices you made could drive you insane] and this new relationship eventually was just as bad as the previous one. so, they break up, and he wishes she could see what their relationship did to him, [And I can't can't wait, Til you see see see, What death and disgust have done to me] and he talks about how he's been in relationships like this for years. [I've been that way for years and years, A slave to broken hearts and sex appeal]
so, thats my analysis, if it made sense at all... awesome song!
i think the title is kinda like you know how chicks will correct guys like "they're not pants, they're capris" or something like that. maybe it was like an inside joke sort thing that he called something a horse and being the nagging girlfriend she was she had to correct him and call it a unicorn. :]
god, this riff is the best I've heard in forever. amazing, just as the music, but with the lyrics it's unbelievable. this is for sure one of the best songs on the record...
not just one of the best on the record, the best on the record and one of the best bayside songs ever
easy meaning definately about a girl who he kept around too long and he doesn't like her anymore
i def. agree.... one of the best bayside songs ever.
I see the meaning, but what the hell does the name mean? Unicorns and Horses?
Anyone care to enlighten?
Another awesome song by Bayside. All their songs are just amazing.
You're pulling out your teeth And I'm the novacaine you pump in your cheek That's why I'm still around You have blood running down your chin But you suffered peacefully
I love this line in this song i can realte to it a lot
to me it's saying you have stuck around for someoen for so long because you know that your what keeps them sane. your the novicane they pump in there cheek that makes them not have to hurt and see any bad.
i d k i just love that line..
"You're pulling out your teeth And I'm the novacaine you pump in your cheek That's why I'm still around"
here i think he's saying that she's destructive to herself, she creates drama in her life and does stupid things but he is always there to take care of her and do everything for this girl. and that is why he still with her otherwise she would care a get rid of him.
"She was a termite eating away at my roots I was just a lost soul who needed a home I was filling a void with you"
here he saying that she is either breaking him down in someway or changing him and even tho he wanted to be with her, he knew it wasn't good to be with her but he did anyway.
the rest just seems like alot of regret and hoping she suffer for what she did to him