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.
Would you say that you wish you were worse than you are?
Would you say that you wish you were worse than you are?
See, you made up a list of your luckiest stars.
And you made me familiar to you in the dark, when you said that you wish you were worse than you are.
Hey you, with the gold which you keep or which keeps you in your place,
Do you recoil that its jail house green and copper taste?
Oh, do you love to dance with it hanging like some hula dress so lightly off your waist?
Was it magic or Midas that touched you?
And by magic, I mean “trickery.” And by Midas, I mean “faith.”
By magic, I mean “trickery.” And by Midas, I mean “faith.”
But the tricksters speak of trickery, ‘is your work the work of the Midas touch?’
‘Do you close your eyes when dancing, the same you close your eyes in your lover’s clutches?’
How dare I speak of trickery, I am not bestowed with the Midas’ touch.
I don’t close my eyes when I’m dancing the same way I close my eyes in my lover’s clutches.
How dare I speak of trickery, when the wild things in me are pulling at my sham?
You can follow the lead of the jackal to see where I am.
You can follow the lead of the jackal who waits for the kill to be made by a mightier hand.
You made up a list of your luckiest stars, and you made me familiar to you in the dark.
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
And you made me familiar to you in the dark, when you said that you wish you were worse than you are.
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
And you made up a list of your luckiest stars, and you made me familiar to you in the dark.
And you made me familiar to you in the dark, when you said that you wish you were worse than you are.
And I follow the lead of the jackal to see where you are.
Would you say that you wish you were worse than you are?
See, you made up a list of your luckiest stars.
And you made me familiar to you in the dark, when you said that you wish you were worse than you are.
Hey you, with the gold which you keep or which keeps you in your place,
Do you recoil that its jail house green and copper taste?
Oh, do you love to dance with it hanging like some hula dress so lightly off your waist?
Was it magic or Midas that touched you?
And by magic, I mean “trickery.” And by Midas, I mean “faith.”
By magic, I mean “trickery.” And by Midas, I mean “faith.”
But the tricksters speak of trickery, ‘is your work the work of the Midas touch?’
‘Do you close your eyes when dancing, the same you close your eyes in your lover’s clutches?’
How dare I speak of trickery, I am not bestowed with the Midas’ touch.
I don’t close my eyes when I’m dancing the same way I close my eyes in my lover’s clutches.
How dare I speak of trickery, when the wild things in me are pulling at my sham?
You can follow the lead of the jackal to see where I am.
You can follow the lead of the jackal who waits for the kill to be made by a mightier hand.
You made up a list of your luckiest stars, and you made me familiar to you in the dark.
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
And you made me familiar to you in the dark, when you said that you wish you were worse than you are.
Whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh
And you made up a list of your luckiest stars, and you made me familiar to you in the dark.
And you made me familiar to you in the dark, when you said that you wish you were worse than you are.
And I follow the lead of the jackal to see where you are.
Lyrics submitted by sidelines, edited by smileyoureontv
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Oh, and in case anyone wonders, Midas was absolutely devoted to the God Pan and said Pan's music was better than Apollo's, for which Apollo cursed him with donkey's ears...
So it's not just the absolute faith in greed, is it? two more of my cents