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'm not a cry baby
I'm the cry baby
A caterpillar that got stuck
Mr. Moth come quick with any luck
A long walk to a dark house
A Roman candle heart keep us far apart
I've got your body doing alright
Hate me baby, maybe I'm a piece of art
Oh, my friends all lie and say
They only want the best wishes for me
Oh, three, two, one
We go live
Oh, baby you're a classic
Like a little black dress
You're a faded moon
Stuck on a little hot mess (little hot mess)
Whoa, whoa
And oh, baby you're a classic
Like a little black dress
But you'll be faded soon
Stuck on a little hot mess (little hot mess)
Whoa, whoa
I can make your heart slow
I can feel the weather in my bones
Wish hard enough, I can turn it to what I like
Your pupils they're big
They're rolling like dice
They say they only want the best wishes for me
(They only want the best for me)
Oh, three, two, one
We go live
Oh, baby you're a classic
Like a little black dress
You're a faded moon
Stuck on a little hot mess (little hot mess)
Whoa, whoa
And oh, baby you're a classic
Like a little black dress
But you'll be faded soon
Stuck on a little hot mess (little hot mess)
Whoa, whoa
Not the boy I was
The boy I am is just venting, venting
Dear gravity, you held me down in this starless city
Dear gravity, you held me down in this starless city
Not the boy I was
The boy I am is just venting, venting
Dear gravity, you held me down in this starless city
Dear gravity, you held me down in this starless city
They say they only want the best wishes for me
(They only want the best for me)
Oh, three, two, one
We go live
Oh, baby you're a classic
Like a little black dress
You're a faded moon
Stuck on a little hot mess (little hot mess)
Whoa, whoa
And oh, baby you're a classic
Like a little black dress
But you'll be faded soon
Stuck on a little hot mess (little hot mess)
Whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa
I'm the cry baby
A caterpillar that got stuck
Mr. Moth come quick with any luck
A long walk to a dark house
A Roman candle heart keep us far apart
I've got your body doing alright
Hate me baby, maybe I'm a piece of art
Oh, my friends all lie and say
They only want the best wishes for me
Oh, three, two, one
We go live
Oh, baby you're a classic
Like a little black dress
You're a faded moon
Stuck on a little hot mess (little hot mess)
Whoa, whoa
And oh, baby you're a classic
Like a little black dress
But you'll be faded soon
Stuck on a little hot mess (little hot mess)
Whoa, whoa
I can make your heart slow
I can feel the weather in my bones
Wish hard enough, I can turn it to what I like
Your pupils they're big
They're rolling like dice
They say they only want the best wishes for me
(They only want the best for me)
Oh, three, two, one
We go live
Oh, baby you're a classic
Like a little black dress
You're a faded moon
Stuck on a little hot mess (little hot mess)
Whoa, whoa
And oh, baby you're a classic
Like a little black dress
But you'll be faded soon
Stuck on a little hot mess (little hot mess)
Whoa, whoa
Not the boy I was
The boy I am is just venting, venting
Dear gravity, you held me down in this starless city
Dear gravity, you held me down in this starless city
Not the boy I was
The boy I am is just venting, venting
Dear gravity, you held me down in this starless city
Dear gravity, you held me down in this starless city
They say they only want the best wishes for me
(They only want the best for me)
Oh, three, two, one
We go live
Oh, baby you're a classic
Like a little black dress
You're a faded moon
Stuck on a little hot mess (little hot mess)
Whoa, whoa
And oh, baby you're a classic
Like a little black dress
But you'll be faded soon
Stuck on a little hot mess (little hot mess)
Whoa, whoa
Whoa, whoa
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