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 was listening to the voices of death on parade
Singin' about conspiracy, wanted me to be afraid
Workin' for a system I couldn't understand or trust
Suffered ridicule and wanting to give it all up in disgust
But you changed my life
Came along in a time of strife
In hunger and need, you made my heart bleed
You changed my life
Talk about salvation, people suddenly get tired
They got a million things to do, they're all so inspired
You do the work of the devil, you got a million friends
They'll be there when you got something, they'll take it all in the end
But you changed my life
Came along in a time of strife
I was under the gun, clouds blocking the sun
You changed my life
Well, the nature of man is to beg and to steal
I do it myself, it's not so unreal
The call of the wild is forever at my door
Wants me to fly like an eagle while being chained to the floor
But you changed my life
You came along in a time of strife
From silver and gold to what man cannot hold
You changed my life
Well, I was eating with the pigs off a fancy tray
I was told I was looking good and to have a nice day
It all seemed so proper, it all seemed so elite
Eating that absolute garbage while being so discreet
But you changed my life
Came along in a time of strife
From silver and gold to what man cannot hold
You changed my life
You were glowing in the sun while being peaceably calm
While orphans of man danced to the beat of the palm
Your eyes were on fire, your feet were of brass
In the world you had made, they made you an outcast
You changed my life
Came along in a time of strife
From silver and gold to what man cannot hold
You changed my life
There was someone in my body that I could hardly see
Invading my privacy making my decisions for me
Holding me back, not letting me stand
Making me feel like a stranger in a strange land
But you changed my life
Came along in a time of strife
You came down the line, gave me a new mind
You changed my life
My Lord and my savior, my companion, my friend
Heart fixer, mind regulator, true to the end
My creator, my comforter, my cause for joy
What the world is set against but will never destroy
You changed my life
Came along in a time of strife
You came in like the wind, like Errol Flynn
You changed my life
Singin' about conspiracy, wanted me to be afraid
Workin' for a system I couldn't understand or trust
Suffered ridicule and wanting to give it all up in disgust
But you changed my life
Came along in a time of strife
In hunger and need, you made my heart bleed
You changed my life
Talk about salvation, people suddenly get tired
They got a million things to do, they're all so inspired
You do the work of the devil, you got a million friends
They'll be there when you got something, they'll take it all in the end
But you changed my life
Came along in a time of strife
I was under the gun, clouds blocking the sun
You changed my life
Well, the nature of man is to beg and to steal
I do it myself, it's not so unreal
The call of the wild is forever at my door
Wants me to fly like an eagle while being chained to the floor
But you changed my life
You came along in a time of strife
From silver and gold to what man cannot hold
You changed my life
Well, I was eating with the pigs off a fancy tray
I was told I was looking good and to have a nice day
It all seemed so proper, it all seemed so elite
Eating that absolute garbage while being so discreet
But you changed my life
Came along in a time of strife
From silver and gold to what man cannot hold
You changed my life
You were glowing in the sun while being peaceably calm
While orphans of man danced to the beat of the palm
Your eyes were on fire, your feet were of brass
In the world you had made, they made you an outcast
You changed my life
Came along in a time of strife
From silver and gold to what man cannot hold
You changed my life
There was someone in my body that I could hardly see
Invading my privacy making my decisions for me
Holding me back, not letting me stand
Making me feel like a stranger in a strange land
But you changed my life
Came along in a time of strife
You came down the line, gave me a new mind
You changed my life
My Lord and my savior, my companion, my friend
Heart fixer, mind regulator, true to the end
My creator, my comforter, my cause for joy
What the world is set against but will never destroy
You changed my life
Came along in a time of strife
You came in like the wind, like Errol Flynn
You changed my life
Lyrics submitted by IDoKnowTheMuffinMan
You Changed My Life Lyrics as written by Bob Dylan
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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I'm interested in fellow who calls himself "IDoKnowTheMuffinMan," who transcribed these lyrics, because he left off Bob Dylan's last interesting simile, which I reproduce here (& which is available for you to listen to in the first Bootleg Series release):
"You came in like the wind Like Errol Flynn & you changed my life"
Does it bother someone who may be Christian & wants to believe the Bob feels the same way to compare the savoir of humankind with a philandering Hollywood legend? I have to ask.
Because the fact that the Bob does it is both insults the Christian faithful but also belies his own sense of awesomeness.
Hello there! My apologies! I had no intent to leave out any lyrics. My discovery of this song came from a mix CD given to me a few years ago. The version doesn't have certain lines which I have seen transcribed on other lyrics websites. I would be happy to add any that are missing. I just need to know at which point in the song they are. :-)
The lyrics of the Bootleg Series version are on Dylan's site:<br /> <br /> bobdylan.com/songs/you-changed-my-life<br /> <br /> You can compare & contrast your own there.<br /> <br /> I had thought you left them out because they were awkward!
Thank you for that! Alterations are done and done! There were several verses I didn't include, I see! Not purposeful, I assure you. It is a truly great song. There are so few out there who can measure up to Dylan's writing talents.