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.
Pay your respects to a greater intellect
You're just a pawn, does this confession turn you on?
I know your kind, you'd do me from behind
And when everybody stares, their eyes will bare the sharpest glare
Everybody knows beneath your clothes
Starring at your toes is just a pose
Everybody good knows how hard you blow
Everybody knows
You did me wrong, I grinned and played along
Those days are gone, does this confession turn you on?
I'd see you stoned, lawn chair to gilded throne
You cut your tiny ties and now you're dangling by a lie
Everybody knows beneath your clothes
Starring at your toes is just a pose
Everybody good knows how hard you blow
Everybody knows
You think you're Jesus Christ
You're not my Jesus Christ
You're just a pawn, does this confession turn you on?
I know your kind, you'd do me from behind
And when everybody stares, their eyes will bare the sharpest glare
Everybody knows beneath your clothes
Starring at your toes is just a pose
Everybody good knows how hard you blow
Everybody knows
You did me wrong, I grinned and played along
Those days are gone, does this confession turn you on?
I'd see you stoned, lawn chair to gilded throne
You cut your tiny ties and now you're dangling by a lie
Everybody knows beneath your clothes
Starring at your toes is just a pose
Everybody good knows how hard you blow
Everybody knows
You think you're Jesus Christ
You're not my Jesus Christ
Lyrics submitted by sheslikeohsoemo
Vexed Lyrics as written by Max Bemis
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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Great version of a great song,
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Ahem. Think Pastor/Priest and you'll get this song.
I thought this was a song about the girl who "saved" him from his mental illness. She reminded him of that constantly and acted as if she was his savior, thus the Jesus reference.
"Everybody good knows how hard you blow" awkward pause eyes look back and forth .> "Everybody knows"
hahahahha.
Yep. The first time I read the lyrics to this song I thought of Max having a sexual experience with a Priest or Pastor, etc. I'll be the first to tell you that I don't follow the goings-on of the Jewish religion, so I don't know if Reconciliation is a part of it. But lines like "does this confession turn you on?" and "you think you're Jesus Christ", plus other seemingly sexual lyrics tell me that he's talking about some sort of Catholic Priest/young boy relationship. I really don't know what that has to do with the story line, so I'm not very confident that my thoughts are correct.
His references to Jesus Christ on this album continue to confuse me about his religious standings. I do believe that he's border-line Christian...but from what i understand of the the Jewish religion is that they dont recognize Jesus as the Son of God; but if that's so, why does he bring up Jesus in so many songs?
I read somewhere (it could have been a joke or a rumor, as it didn't look like the most trustworthy site) that this song is about George W Bush. Personally, I agree with the priest molestation idea, but max is jewish, and this seems more like a catholic based song. One thing I'm pretty sure of is that it's not addressed to a girl: "...You'd do me from behind..." "...You're not my jesus christ..."
I think the "you do me from behind" line is maybe saying the girl stabbed him in the back
this song is about Jesse Lacey.
Lacey was supposed to be on this cd but didnt want to be associated with this genre anymore.
Why does everyone focus on Max's religion? This song is obviously about a concieted girl, probably promiscuous, who "thinks she's Jesus Christ". That's just a way of saying she thinks she's amazing, the savior of the world, all the things associated with Jesus. This song doesn't (to me) have anything to do with religion and everything to do with someone who stabbed him in the back or let him down.
Why hasn't anyone made the connect between "Staring at your toes is just a pose" and pretending to pray?