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 shoulda known better
Nothing lasts forever
It all started out in a tan Dodge van
Two hundred bucks that we stole from her dad
Out the back of his meth lab
Took the 45, out demand that
Livid Bonnie, 'bout to be a mommy
Came to California with Johnny
They had a run in with the law
She shoulda listened to her ma
And she said we'd be together
(She said)
She used the word 'Forever'
(She said)
Oh, my lovely lover
(She said)
Why had I love to love her?
I, I shoulda known better
Nothing lasts forever, yeah, lasts forever
I shoulda known better
(Ooh, better)
I shoulda known better
(Ooh, better)
I shoulda known
Abortion clinic, I shoulda forced the issue
But she did it with the hanger and some tissue
Don't cry, dry your eye
(She said)
I'll be back on my feet tonight
(She said)
I'll be walking the street tonight
(She said)
'Cause these arms gotta eat tonight
Then we made love like a couple of drunk buffalo
Was I rough enough?
It was the last time I'd ever see her
I'd try to thank her with gonorrhea
But then she split and stole my sweater
Dude, I shoulda known better
I, I shoulda known better
Nothing lasts forever, yeah, lasts forever
Shoulda known better
Shoulda ended in the tan Dodge van
With two hundred dollars worth of partying
But instead I'm sitting on Sunset
Selling my soul for a hit, yeah, what next?
Yeah, I shoulda known better
Nothing lasts forever, yeah, lasts forever
When you said you'd never leave and we'd be together
Nothing lasts forever, nothing ever lasts forever
Shoulda known better
(Ooh, better)
I shoulda known better
(Ooh, better)
I shoulda known better
(Ooh, better)
I shoulda known better
(Ooh, better)
I shoulda known
Nothing lasts forever
It all started out in a tan Dodge van
Two hundred bucks that we stole from her dad
Out the back of his meth lab
Took the 45, out demand that
Livid Bonnie, 'bout to be a mommy
Came to California with Johnny
They had a run in with the law
She shoulda listened to her ma
And she said we'd be together
(She said)
She used the word 'Forever'
(She said)
Oh, my lovely lover
(She said)
Why had I love to love her?
I, I shoulda known better
Nothing lasts forever, yeah, lasts forever
I shoulda known better
(Ooh, better)
I shoulda known better
(Ooh, better)
I shoulda known
Abortion clinic, I shoulda forced the issue
But she did it with the hanger and some tissue
Don't cry, dry your eye
(She said)
I'll be back on my feet tonight
(She said)
I'll be walking the street tonight
(She said)
'Cause these arms gotta eat tonight
Then we made love like a couple of drunk buffalo
Was I rough enough?
It was the last time I'd ever see her
I'd try to thank her with gonorrhea
But then she split and stole my sweater
Dude, I shoulda known better
I, I shoulda known better
Nothing lasts forever, yeah, lasts forever
Shoulda known better
Shoulda ended in the tan Dodge van
With two hundred dollars worth of partying
But instead I'm sitting on Sunset
Selling my soul for a hit, yeah, what next?
Yeah, I shoulda known better
Nothing lasts forever, yeah, lasts forever
When you said you'd never leave and we'd be together
Nothing lasts forever, nothing ever lasts forever
Shoulda known better
(Ooh, better)
I shoulda known better
(Ooh, better)
I shoulda known better
(Ooh, better)
I shoulda known better
(Ooh, better)
I shoulda known
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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Punchline
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Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Yeah!! ^ I just really like this song. No matter what you decide to derive from the lyrics...Awesome song.