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.
They met when he was in a hospital
He whispered "I ain't got no heart" into the room
She said "I'll make you smile again" and made an airplane
Out of some pretty words put in a spoon
He said "I'll never see again
My eyes are sorta twisted inwards, deep into my throat"
She said "Don't worry, babe, I'll open up your jam
I'll open up my pretty self" and she lay down on his road
She said "How do you know? Maybe you are"
Said "How do you know? Maybe you are"
Said "How do you know-oh? Maybe you are-are-are-are-are"
"Maybe you are-are-are-are-are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
She peeled his skin away, so every day he'd cry
And in those tears he'd lie to find some peace
She'd break from all his words, but she was made of mercury
She'd come together later piece by piece
And it became a game they played under the blankets
In the bed, pretending she was small and he was big
She became so small, he could lift her, body and heart and all
He held her up naked, she was just his fig
Just his fig
Said "How do you know? Maybe you are"
Said "How do you know-oh? Maybe you are"
Said "How do you know-oh? Maybe you are-are-are-are-are"
"Maybe you are-are-are-are-are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
He whispered "I ain't got no heart" into the room
She said "I'll make you smile again" and made an airplane
Out of some pretty words put in a spoon
He said "I'll never see again
My eyes are sorta twisted inwards, deep into my throat"
She said "Don't worry, babe, I'll open up your jam
I'll open up my pretty self" and she lay down on his road
She said "How do you know? Maybe you are"
Said "How do you know? Maybe you are"
Said "How do you know-oh? Maybe you are-are-are-are-are"
"Maybe you are-are-are-are-are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
She peeled his skin away, so every day he'd cry
And in those tears he'd lie to find some peace
She'd break from all his words, but she was made of mercury
She'd come together later piece by piece
And it became a game they played under the blankets
In the bed, pretending she was small and he was big
She became so small, he could lift her, body and heart and all
He held her up naked, she was just his fig
Just his fig
Said "How do you know? Maybe you are"
Said "How do you know-oh? Maybe you are"
Said "How do you know-oh? Maybe you are-are-are-are-are"
"Maybe you are-are-are-are-are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
"Maybe you are"
Lyrics submitted by arthguinness
Maybe You Are Lyrics as written by Hadas Kleinman Asaf Avidan
Lyrics © TuneCore Inc., BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think the first two commentators kinda missed the point of the song.
He was broken hearted from another woman, she met him and tried to help him and make him love her, but he didn't, couldn't, as much as he wanted to.
She said "how do you know? Maybe you are". - That's what she tells him as an answer to him saying that he is not in love with her.
"She broke from all his words" - He hurt her, by not loving her back.
"She became so small, he could lift her, body and heart and all. He held her up naked, she was just his fig." - She gave herself to him, but she was just his fig - fig leaf, just to cover his broken heart.
Sad but true.
@max1127089 I discovered this song just a few days ago. Upon reading Max's post I just had to make an account and post that his interpretation is correct and that the others do miss the point. How do I know? I'm sadly living the story of the song in the shoes of the man.
To me, this song is about a man who is totally broken down from life. He's ready to give up on everything, when he meets a woman. She's full of life and zest and she promises to help heal his soul. She stays by his side, mending him, and in time he becomes whole again. Once he's whole she needs him, and he's there for her.
I absolutely adore this song.
I think it's about meeting someone in the darkest times of life. Still, it's hard and everything seems to be impossible. But somehow there is this point, this second when you look into each others eyes and realise that this person is illuminating your soul. Slowly, everything is becoming warm and comfortable again. Both of you are glowing in the pale moonlight as one and sooner or later everything is dived in golden light. And you ask yourself and your loved one this question: How do you know? And both of you have the answer: Maybe you are.
For me, it's one perfect expression of feelings.