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.
Take all of your wasted honor
Every little past frustration
Take all of your so-called problems,
Better put 'em in quotations
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Walking like a one man army
Fighting with the shadows in your head
Living out the same old moment
Knowing you'd be better off instead,
If you could only
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Have no fear for giving in
Have no fear for giving over
You'd better know that in the end
Its better to say too much
Then never say what you need to say again
Even if your hands are shaking
And your faith is broken
Even as the eyes are closing
Do it with a heart wide open
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Every little past frustration
Take all of your so-called problems,
Better put 'em in quotations
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Walking like a one man army
Fighting with the shadows in your head
Living out the same old moment
Knowing you'd be better off instead,
If you could only
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Say what you need to say
Have no fear for giving in
Have no fear for giving over
You'd better know that in the end
Its better to say too much
Then never say what you need to say again
Even if your hands are shaking
And your faith is broken
Even as the eyes are closing
Do it with a heart wide open
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Say what you need to say, say what you need to say
Lyrics submitted by SubtleAsABrick
Say Lyrics as written by John Mayer
Lyrics © REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It's obvious what his meaning is. He said it 40 times. I can hardly call this song a favorite, but I guess it's not that bad -- except when the radio plays it over... and over... and over... you know, when it gets almost as repetitive as the song itself?