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.
It took too long
It took too long
It took to long for you to call back
And normally I would just forget that
Except for the fact it was my birthday
My stupid birthday
I played along
I played along
I played along it rolled right off my back
But obviously my armor was cracked
What kind of boyfriend would forget that?
Who would forget that?
The type of guy who doesn't see
What he has until she leaves
Don't let me go
'Cause without me, you know you're lost
Wise up now or pay the cost
Soon you will know
You're not livin' till you're livin'
Livin' with me
You're not winnin' till you're winnin'
Winnin' me
You're not gettin' till you're gettin'
Gettin' me
You're not livin' till you're livin'
Livin' for me
This is the potential breakup song
Our album needs just one
Oh baby please
Please tell me
We got along
We got along
We got along until you did that
Now all I want is just my stuff back
Do you get that?
Let me repeat that
I want my stuff back
You can send it in a box
I don't care just drop it off
I won't be home
'Cause without me, you know you're lost
Minus you I'm better off
Soon you will know
You're not livin' till you're livin'
Livin' with me
You're not winnin' till you're winnin'
Winnin' me
You're not gettin' till you're gettin'
Gettin' me
You're not livin' till you're livin'
Livin' for me
You can try, you can try
You know I know it'd be a lie
Without me you're gonna die
So you better think clearly, clearly
Before you nearly, nearly
Mess up the situation that your gonna miss dearly, dearly
C'mon
You're not livin' till you're livin'
Livin' with me
You're not winnin' till you're winnin'
Winnin' me
You're not gettin' till you're gettin'
Gettin' me
You're not livin' till you're livin'
Livin' for me
This is the potential breakup song
Our album needs just one
Oh baby please
Please tell me
This is the potential makeup song
Please just admit you're wrong
Which will it be?
Which will it be?
It took too long
It took to long for you to call back
And normally I would just forget that
Except for the fact it was my birthday
My stupid birthday
I played along
I played along
I played along it rolled right off my back
But obviously my armor was cracked
What kind of boyfriend would forget that?
Who would forget that?
The type of guy who doesn't see
What he has until she leaves
Don't let me go
'Cause without me, you know you're lost
Wise up now or pay the cost
Soon you will know
You're not livin' till you're livin'
Livin' with me
You're not winnin' till you're winnin'
Winnin' me
You're not gettin' till you're gettin'
Gettin' me
You're not livin' till you're livin'
Livin' for me
This is the potential breakup song
Our album needs just one
Oh baby please
Please tell me
We got along
We got along
We got along until you did that
Now all I want is just my stuff back
Do you get that?
Let me repeat that
I want my stuff back
You can send it in a box
I don't care just drop it off
I won't be home
'Cause without me, you know you're lost
Minus you I'm better off
Soon you will know
You're not livin' till you're livin'
Livin' with me
You're not winnin' till you're winnin'
Winnin' me
You're not gettin' till you're gettin'
Gettin' me
You're not livin' till you're livin'
Livin' for me
You can try, you can try
You know I know it'd be a lie
Without me you're gonna die
So you better think clearly, clearly
Before you nearly, nearly
Mess up the situation that your gonna miss dearly, dearly
C'mon
You're not livin' till you're livin'
Livin' with me
You're not winnin' till you're winnin'
Winnin' me
You're not gettin' till you're gettin'
Gettin' me
You're not livin' till you're livin'
Livin' for me
This is the potential breakup song
Our album needs just one
Oh baby please
Please tell me
This is the potential makeup song
Please just admit you're wrong
Which will it be?
Which will it be?
Lyrics submitted by XchelsatthediscoX
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
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.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
aly & aj are myy secret obsessionnnn. i love them love love love love them.