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 I I I I ain't got no shorty
That's why I'm
Checkin' Tracy, eyeing Stacey
Stuck in the club still lookin' for love
'Cause I I I I I ain't got no shorty
That's why I'm Calling Barbra, texting Carla
Stuck in the club still lookin' for love
I said I'm lookin' for love
Not askin' for much
Just a fine little shorty
With a big ol' butt
That's willing to cuss
She got drink in her cup
And we can take it to the floor
And tear it up
Say
She don't want to see me
So she calls me up when she wants to get busy
I am the man, I am the business
I'm tellin' you all with God as my witness
I'm really a youth but I'm telling the truth
I am a pimp I got them sexy girls
Got so plenty don't know who to choose
I I I I I ain't got no shorty
That's why I'm
Checkin' Tracy, eying Stacey
Stuck in the club still lookin' for love
'Cause I I I I I ain't got no shorty
That's why I'm Calling Barbra, texting Carla
Stuck in the club still lookin' for love
I'm still looking for love
In all the wrong places
I'm cookin' up something mean for you ladies
Spin it around
I love what your shakin'
Love what your breakin'
Down down down down
Girl you the bomb I just hate to admit it
Booty so big that its so hard to sit
No I'm just just trying to get all up in it
Now you can tell me that you won't roll wit' it
I'm really a youth but I'm telling the truth
I am a pimp I got them sexy girls
Got so plenty don't know who to choose
I I I I I ain't got no shorty
That's why I'm
Checkin' Tracy, eying Stacey
Stuck in the club still lookin' for love
'Cause I I I I I ain't got no shorty
That's why
Calling Barbra, texting Carla
Stuck in the club still lookin' for love
Now I've been here since 12 oh 3
Trying to find some ladies
Where could they be?
They need to clap for me
Oh oh
They need to clap for me
What what
1 2 3
now I be here in the V-I-P
Trying to find some ladies
Where could they be?
They need to clap for me
Oh oh
They need to clap for me
What what
1 2 3 4
I I I I I ain't got no shorty
That's why I'm
Checkin' Tracy, eying Stacey
Stuck in the club still lookin' for love
'Cause I I I I I ain't got no shorty
That's why
Calling Barbra, texting Carla
Stuck in the club still lookin' for love
That's why I'm
Checkin' Tracy, eyeing Stacey
Stuck in the club still lookin' for love
'Cause I I I I I ain't got no shorty
That's why I'm Calling Barbra, texting Carla
Stuck in the club still lookin' for love
I said I'm lookin' for love
Not askin' for much
Just a fine little shorty
With a big ol' butt
That's willing to cuss
She got drink in her cup
And we can take it to the floor
And tear it up
Say
She don't want to see me
So she calls me up when she wants to get busy
I am the man, I am the business
I'm tellin' you all with God as my witness
I'm really a youth but I'm telling the truth
I am a pimp I got them sexy girls
Got so plenty don't know who to choose
I I I I I ain't got no shorty
That's why I'm
Checkin' Tracy, eying Stacey
Stuck in the club still lookin' for love
'Cause I I I I I ain't got no shorty
That's why I'm Calling Barbra, texting Carla
Stuck in the club still lookin' for love
I'm still looking for love
In all the wrong places
I'm cookin' up something mean for you ladies
Spin it around
I love what your shakin'
Love what your breakin'
Down down down down
Girl you the bomb I just hate to admit it
Booty so big that its so hard to sit
No I'm just just trying to get all up in it
Now you can tell me that you won't roll wit' it
I'm really a youth but I'm telling the truth
I am a pimp I got them sexy girls
Got so plenty don't know who to choose
I I I I I ain't got no shorty
That's why I'm
Checkin' Tracy, eying Stacey
Stuck in the club still lookin' for love
'Cause I I I I I ain't got no shorty
That's why
Calling Barbra, texting Carla
Stuck in the club still lookin' for love
Now I've been here since 12 oh 3
Trying to find some ladies
Where could they be?
They need to clap for me
Oh oh
They need to clap for me
What what
1 2 3
now I be here in the V-I-P
Trying to find some ladies
Where could they be?
They need to clap for me
Oh oh
They need to clap for me
What what
1 2 3 4
I I I I I ain't got no shorty
That's why I'm
Checkin' Tracy, eying Stacey
Stuck in the club still lookin' for love
'Cause I I I I I ain't got no shorty
That's why
Calling Barbra, texting Carla
Stuck in the club still lookin' for love
Lyrics submitted by tonyxthrashdown
Got No Shorty Lyrics as written by Theron Makiel Thomas Sylvester Jr. Jordan
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
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.