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 see the sweat is dripping
That's because you know just what I'm thinking
Don't look back it's me who follows
And there ain't nothing from me you can borrow
You like to hide behind lies
But we see through your disguise
It's not a threat or a curse
Just a proper verse
I'm gonna make you let go
Of what you tried to withhold
And I can promise it won't be long
Yes I can promise
Boy, you better pray
We don't seek you out, no
You better pray
You think the war is over
I've only shown you the tip of the iceberg
And you rely upon your lawyers
But at night when you sleep does it bother you?
You like to hide behind lies
But we see through your disguise
It's not a threat or a curse
Just a proper verse
I'm gonna make you let go
Of what you tried to withhold
And I can promise it won't be long
Yes I can promise
Boy, you better pray
We don't seek you out, no
You better hope
We might lose control, no
Is this good enough for you man?
Boy, you better pray
We don't seek you out, no
You better hope
We might lose control, no
That's because you know just what I'm thinking
Don't look back it's me who follows
And there ain't nothing from me you can borrow
You like to hide behind lies
But we see through your disguise
It's not a threat or a curse
Just a proper verse
I'm gonna make you let go
Of what you tried to withhold
And I can promise it won't be long
Yes I can promise
Boy, you better pray
We don't seek you out, no
You better pray
You think the war is over
I've only shown you the tip of the iceberg
And you rely upon your lawyers
But at night when you sleep does it bother you?
You like to hide behind lies
But we see through your disguise
It's not a threat or a curse
Just a proper verse
I'm gonna make you let go
Of what you tried to withhold
And I can promise it won't be long
Yes I can promise
Boy, you better pray
We don't seek you out, no
You better hope
We might lose control, no
Is this good enough for you man?
Boy, you better pray
We don't seek you out, no
You better hope
We might lose control, no
Lyrics submitted by thingcalled_love
You Better Pray Lyrics as written by Ronnie Winter
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
When I heard this on the radio, I would have never guessed it was RJA. Now I've never been a huge fan of theirs, but it wasn't like I didn't like them. (Ass shaker was a great song) I was neutral when it came to them. But this, this is a pleasant change up. The vocal harmonies on "....out" on the chorus are insanely impressive. I thought this was some new band that just came out, and as a musician I was wow'ed at how well this song was put together. And I don't even like this southern rock sound.
The vocal notes he hits on the beginning and the end are mind blowing. I would have never guessed he had such an impressive range. At the very beginning when he hit that first note, I was like "I'm gonna be pissed if this is Axl and the new Guns & Roses" because I despise that guy and I was diggin the song. Right when he sang on the verse I knew it wasn't. I had to look it up on my phone, and when RJA came up as the search result for "You better pray, we don't seek you out" I was like, there's no way!
But it was, and now my mind is blown. Much better than that poppy punk-ish sound. Way to expand your horizons RJA! Kudos!