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 wanna hold em' like they do in Texas Plays
Fold em' let em' hit me raise it baby stay with me
Luck and intuition play the cards with Spades to start
And after he's been hooked, I'll play the one that's on his heart
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh oh oh ohh oh oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh oh oh ohh oh oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face, hey
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
I wanna roll with him a hard pair we will be
A little gambling is fun when you're with me
Russian Roulette is not the same without a gun
And baby when it's love, if it's not rough, it's no fun
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh oh oh ohh oh oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh oh oh ohh oh oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face, hey
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face, hey
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
Fold em' let em' hit me raise it baby stay with me
Luck and intuition play the cards with Spades to start
And after he's been hooked, I'll play the one that's on his heart
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh oh oh ohh oh oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh oh oh ohh oh oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face, hey
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
I wanna roll with him a hard pair we will be
A little gambling is fun when you're with me
Russian Roulette is not the same without a gun
And baby when it's love, if it's not rough, it's no fun
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh oh oh ohh oh oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Oh, oh, oh, oh, ohhhh, ohh oh oh ohh oh oh
I'll get him hot, show him what I've got
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face, hey
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
P-p-p-poker face, p-p-poker face
(Mum mum mum mah)
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face, hey
Can't read my, can't read my
No, he can't read my poker face
Lyrics submitted by BleedorBreathe
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Van Halen
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Yo La Tengo
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Dusty Springfield
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Ed Sheeran
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I think this song is about love and the challenges that you face when trying to love someone. It's knowing that you don't have a deep emotional connection in your relationship, so at times you imagine you're in love with someone else, who this person is standing in place of.