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.
Felt the heat of the fire, caught a cold from the rain
Love just left me standing with nothing but a name
Pick my heart off the ground as I set to the sky
Never will I let somebody ever make me cry
But just a smile from you tore through my defenses, it made no sense
Now I got to confide and tell the truth 'cause
Boy I'm left wide open, open
You won't leave me broken
You think, but now I've seen it all
That my heart, should be indestructible
But your touch, made it impossible
'Cause underneath it all, I'm vulnerable
You think, but now I've seen it all
That my heart, should be indestructible
But your touch, made it impossible
'Cause underneath it all, I'm vulnerable
Thought that I was a fighter, one of loves sole survivors
Strong enough to keep my love from breaking me again
But you got my attention, wrote your name on my wall
So I've been laying, praying that you won't hurt me at all
I've been trying to play it cool but I've fallen and I'm all in
Now I've got to confide and tell the truth 'cause
Your arms are my protection now
Please take care of what you've found
You think, but now I've seen it all
That my heart, should be indestructible
But your touch, made it impossible
'Cause underneath it all, I'm vulnerable
You think, but now I've seen it all
That my heart, should be indestructible
But your touch, made it impossible
'Cause underneath it all, I'm vulnerable
No you're not him, for all that it's worth
And I'm trying to love like I've never been hurt
But sometimes I know that I push you away
'Cause underneath I'm still afraid
You think, but now I've seen it all (seen it all)
That my heart (my heart), should be indestructible
But your touch, made it impossible (yeah)
'Cause underneath it all, I'm vulnerable
You think, but now I've seen it all
That my heart (my heart), should be indestructible
But your touch (your touch), made it impossible
'Cause underneath it all, I'm vulnerable
I'm vulnerable, woah
'Cause underneath it all, I'm vulnerable
Love just left me standing with nothing but a name
Pick my heart off the ground as I set to the sky
Never will I let somebody ever make me cry
But just a smile from you tore through my defenses, it made no sense
Now I got to confide and tell the truth 'cause
Boy I'm left wide open, open
You won't leave me broken
You think, but now I've seen it all
That my heart, should be indestructible
But your touch, made it impossible
'Cause underneath it all, I'm vulnerable
You think, but now I've seen it all
That my heart, should be indestructible
But your touch, made it impossible
'Cause underneath it all, I'm vulnerable
Thought that I was a fighter, one of loves sole survivors
Strong enough to keep my love from breaking me again
But you got my attention, wrote your name on my wall
So I've been laying, praying that you won't hurt me at all
I've been trying to play it cool but I've fallen and I'm all in
Now I've got to confide and tell the truth 'cause
Your arms are my protection now
Please take care of what you've found
You think, but now I've seen it all
That my heart, should be indestructible
But your touch, made it impossible
'Cause underneath it all, I'm vulnerable
You think, but now I've seen it all
That my heart, should be indestructible
But your touch, made it impossible
'Cause underneath it all, I'm vulnerable
No you're not him, for all that it's worth
And I'm trying to love like I've never been hurt
But sometimes I know that I push you away
'Cause underneath I'm still afraid
You think, but now I've seen it all (seen it all)
That my heart (my heart), should be indestructible
But your touch, made it impossible (yeah)
'Cause underneath it all, I'm vulnerable
You think, but now I've seen it all
That my heart (my heart), should be indestructible
But your touch (your touch), made it impossible
'Cause underneath it all, I'm vulnerable
I'm vulnerable, woah
'Cause underneath it all, I'm vulnerable
Lyrics submitted by Breakingbenjaminfan
Vulnerable Lyrics as written by Matthew Ward Dean Gillard
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Walt Disney Music Company
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Basically, In my opinion, It's about somebody who sleeps around but has just come out oof a relationship they like the guy in and it hurts them but because she sleeps around no-one would think she has emotions
I think this song is about a girl who has been hurt before in a previous relationship, and she's fallen in love again but is afraid of letting her guard down in fear of getting hurt again and she is now 'vulnerable'.
In the line 'Your arms are my protection now, please take care of what you've found', I think she's begging him to protect her, and not hurt her like others before. She wants to believe he will be there for her and shelter her.
"I know you're not him, for all that it's worth And I'm trying to love like I've never been hurt But sometimes I know that I push you away 'Cause underneath I'm still afraid"
To me, this last verse has the most meaning and emotion. I think this verse means that she is afraid of falling deeper in love with this man because she's scared he will hurt her like her last boyfriend did. She wants to believe that he is different, but she is still hurt and afraid inside and still puts walls up to stop him from getting in.