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.
Ich hab dich leider schon so oft gesehen
Wer dich nicht kennt, der glaubt ja,
ach wie schön
Da ist doch endlich jemand,
der so denkt wie ich
und der mir in allem
ganz und gar beipflichtet
So glaubt man schnell,
du wärst ein Freund, seist mit dabei
Wir trinken, lachen, singen noch
auf uns Zwei
Doch was heimlich hinter
deiner Fassade bricht
weiß keiner, denn was du denkst,
das sagst du nicht
Heuchler – du bist ein
Heuchler – du bist ein
Heuchler – du lachst uns allen ins Gesicht
Heuchler – denn echte Freundschaft kennst du nicht
Du schließt dich stets der Meinung
anderer an
Du zeigst Betroffenheit, tust so,
als gehe es dich an
Du gehst in jedem Freundeskreis
mal ein mal aus
Wie ein Vampir saugst du
unser Vertrauen aus
Tief im Innern freut es dich
Du lachst uns allen ins Gesicht
Echte Freunde kennst du nicht
denn irgendwann zeigt sich
dein wahres Ich
Heuchler – du bist ein
Heuchler
Heuchler – du bist ein
Heuchler – Heuchler
Heuchler – du bist ein
Heuchler – deine Sprüche sind so falsch und dreist
Heuchler – du gottverdammter
Heuchler – deine Freundschaft ist
Scheinheiligkeit
Scheinheiligkeit
Heuchler
Scheinheiligkeit
Tief im Innern wurmt es dich
denn eigentlich bist du ein kleiner Wicht
Du hast kein Herz und kein Verstand
Nichts an dir ist aus erster Hand
Du bist so hässlich und so dumm
Du denkst, es nimmt schon
keiner krumm
wenn du ein bisschen trickst und lügst
und dich dabei nur selbst betrügst
Heuchler – du gottverdamter
Heuchler
Heuchler – du bist ein
Heuchler – Heuchler
Heuchler – du bist und bleibst ein verdammter
Heuchler – du lachst uns allen ins Gesicht
Heuchler – du gottverdammter
Heuchler – ich hoffe, dass du daran erstickst!
Wer dich nicht kennt, der glaubt ja,
ach wie schön
Da ist doch endlich jemand,
der so denkt wie ich
und der mir in allem
ganz und gar beipflichtet
So glaubt man schnell,
du wärst ein Freund, seist mit dabei
Wir trinken, lachen, singen noch
auf uns Zwei
Doch was heimlich hinter
deiner Fassade bricht
weiß keiner, denn was du denkst,
das sagst du nicht
Heuchler – du bist ein
Heuchler – du bist ein
Heuchler – du lachst uns allen ins Gesicht
Heuchler – denn echte Freundschaft kennst du nicht
Du schließt dich stets der Meinung
anderer an
Du zeigst Betroffenheit, tust so,
als gehe es dich an
Du gehst in jedem Freundeskreis
mal ein mal aus
Wie ein Vampir saugst du
unser Vertrauen aus
Tief im Innern freut es dich
Du lachst uns allen ins Gesicht
Echte Freunde kennst du nicht
denn irgendwann zeigt sich
dein wahres Ich
Heuchler – du bist ein
Heuchler
Heuchler – du bist ein
Heuchler – Heuchler
Heuchler – du bist ein
Heuchler – deine Sprüche sind so falsch und dreist
Heuchler – du gottverdammter
Heuchler – deine Freundschaft ist
Scheinheiligkeit
Scheinheiligkeit
Heuchler
Scheinheiligkeit
Tief im Innern wurmt es dich
denn eigentlich bist du ein kleiner Wicht
Du hast kein Herz und kein Verstand
Nichts an dir ist aus erster Hand
Du bist so hässlich und so dumm
Du denkst, es nimmt schon
keiner krumm
wenn du ein bisschen trickst und lügst
und dich dabei nur selbst betrügst
Heuchler – du gottverdamter
Heuchler
Heuchler – du bist ein
Heuchler – Heuchler
Heuchler – du bist und bleibst ein verdammter
Heuchler – du lachst uns allen ins Gesicht
Heuchler – du gottverdammter
Heuchler – ich hoffe, dass du daran erstickst!
Lyrics submitted by gothic_hobbit
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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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.
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/
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
Regrettebly, I have seen you often. Those who don't know you think they do, oh how nice. There is certainly someone at last that fully agrees with me. So someone believed you were a friend, it is done. We drink and laugh and sing just us two. But what's secretly breaking behind your facade is unknown because what you think is never said!
Pretender, you are a Pretender, you are a Pretender, you laugh at us all in our face Pretender, because you know no true friends
You always imply your opinion to another You act shocked, you do, as it is done to you. You go from every friendship to another Like a vampire you suck out our trust.
Deep inside, it pleases you. You laugh at all of us in the face. You know no true friends. For sometimes it shows your true self. Pretender, you are a Pretender Pretender, you are a Pretender, Pretender! Pretender, you are a Pretender, your accusations are so false and brash Pretender, you goddamned Pretender, your friendship is Hipocrasy
Hipocrasy Pretender Hipocrasy
Deep inside it warms you For you are finnally a little sprite (could also mean wight, goblin, dwarf, etc) You have no heart and no brain Nothing on you is original You are so hideous and so stupid You think nothing's coming full-circle If you drink a little and lie and by doing so you only deceive yourself
Pretender, you goddamned Pretender Pretender, you are a Pretender, you are and remain a goddamned Pretender, you laugh as us all in the face Pretender, I hope you choke from it!
Notes: Heuchler is an odd German word, that can mean pretender, faker, shammer, charlatan, hypocrite, user. There is no real english translation for the word.