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 don't have any intentions
of finishing what you have started
Do you? Do you?
And at the start of something different
You realize just whats been missing
Do you? Do you?
And round and round
You're fighting your hesitation
And yet so close
But there's always some resignation
You need control
Like strings on a puppet
Learning how to love it
Ohh...
You know all the games that you play
But yo don't realize how much you've changed
Do you? Do you?
And I know all your reasons for leaving
I really hope she has some meaning
Do you? Do you?
And round and round
You're fighting your hesitation
And yet so close
But there's always some resignation
You need control
Like strings on a puppet
Learning how to love it
Ohh...
There's a line in your mind
And I see now it's clearly defined
You're no good, you're not well, you don't need him to know it's not right
The intention is not for commitment to prize to steep
But it's growing on you to lick your teeth
Ohh...
And round and round
You're fighting your hesitation
And yet so close
But there's always some resignation
You need control
Like strings on a puppet
Learning how to love it
Ohh...
of finishing what you have started
Do you? Do you?
And at the start of something different
You realize just whats been missing
Do you? Do you?
And round and round
You're fighting your hesitation
And yet so close
But there's always some resignation
You need control
Like strings on a puppet
Learning how to love it
Ohh...
You know all the games that you play
But yo don't realize how much you've changed
Do you? Do you?
And I know all your reasons for leaving
I really hope she has some meaning
Do you? Do you?
And round and round
You're fighting your hesitation
And yet so close
But there's always some resignation
You need control
Like strings on a puppet
Learning how to love it
Ohh...
There's a line in your mind
And I see now it's clearly defined
You're no good, you're not well, you don't need him to know it's not right
The intention is not for commitment to prize to steep
But it's growing on you to lick your teeth
Ohh...
And round and round
You're fighting your hesitation
And yet so close
But there's always some resignation
You need control
Like strings on a puppet
Learning how to love it
Ohh...
Lyrics submitted by thoseguiltyeyes
Your Intentions Lyrics as written by Timothy Luke Very
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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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"
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Great version of a great song,
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This song seems to be about a person who doesn't want to commit to a relationship.
"You don't have any intentions Of finishing what you have started"
This person puts on the facade of wanting something, but the speaker knows that her intentions are not there. Other lyrics that support this are: "You know all the games that you play" These games just go along with not wanting a real relationship.
"But there's always some reservation You need control Like strings on a puppet Learning how to love it"
The reservation is not being able to control everything coupled perhaps with the thought that the grass is always greener.