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.
Feel, damn you, feel
like you're alive again
take ten broken limbs
and make it alright for them
and I needed you more,
more than you'll ever notice
but I need to do more
if you're to ever know this
or you won't care at all
no, you won't care at all
for you won't care at all
no, you won't care at all
dance puppet boy
if you do a good job
then they'll want you again,
give it all that you've got
show them the joy and the pain and the ending
then do it again, and we'll all stop pretending
they'll pay more attention to what's before mentioned
as you bob your head
'cause you're not even listening
a very small few of you even give meanings
but laugh, clown boy, laugh
'cause it's always so pleasing
feel, damn you, feel
like you're alive again
I needed to know,
needed a show of hands
for all this couldn't be sure
as we see a lot of them
and i traded it all,
could i make a difference
at all?
I met a woman,
she was wonderful,
everything perfect,
we both had the world
but I filled up my senses
with thoughts from the ghost
and i spent her life savings
left no room for
both of us
crying and trying
and screaming aloud,
I barely can see her tumultuous crowds
are careful to hide her and sing much too loud
see, you don't even know what i'm talking about
feel, damn you, feel
like you're alive again
I needed you more,
than you would ever've noticed
Et Al
Couldn't be sure
that you would ever notice
but i gave it my all
did i make a difference at all?
like you're alive again
take ten broken limbs
and make it alright for them
and I needed you more,
more than you'll ever notice
but I need to do more
if you're to ever know this
or you won't care at all
no, you won't care at all
for you won't care at all
no, you won't care at all
dance puppet boy
if you do a good job
then they'll want you again,
give it all that you've got
show them the joy and the pain and the ending
then do it again, and we'll all stop pretending
they'll pay more attention to what's before mentioned
as you bob your head
'cause you're not even listening
a very small few of you even give meanings
but laugh, clown boy, laugh
'cause it's always so pleasing
feel, damn you, feel
like you're alive again
I needed to know,
needed a show of hands
for all this couldn't be sure
as we see a lot of them
and i traded it all,
could i make a difference
at all?
I met a woman,
she was wonderful,
everything perfect,
we both had the world
but I filled up my senses
with thoughts from the ghost
and i spent her life savings
left no room for
both of us
crying and trying
and screaming aloud,
I barely can see her tumultuous crowds
are careful to hide her and sing much too loud
see, you don't even know what i'm talking about
feel, damn you, feel
like you're alive again
I needed you more,
than you would ever've noticed
Et Al
Couldn't be sure
that you would ever notice
but i gave it my all
did i make a difference at all?
Lyrics submitted by foolish-hippie
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it also sound like he says "pay more attention to whats the poor mentioned" but that makes no sence