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.
How long has it been, shall we get into it again?
Excuse, our disgrace
We've had no time to paint the place
The dog is always barking at the mailman
I won't waste your time with my revelation
Hello my friend, I see you're back again
Hello mystery, don't bother to explain
How 'bout maybe, its all been in my head
Hey well I'm tired of this black and blue, black and blue
My dear, come again? Your voice is fading out and in
Out of the laundry bin, I found my innocence again
The dog is always barking at the mailman
I won't waste your time with my revelation
Hello my friend, I see you're back again
Hello mystery, don't bother to explain
How 'bout maybe, its all been in my head
Hey well I'm tired of this black and blue, black and blue
Hello my friend, I see you're back again
Hello mystery, don't bother to explain
How 'bout maybe, its all been in my head
Hey well, I'm tired of this black and blue, black and blue
Excuse, our disgrace
We've had no time to paint the place
The dog is always barking at the mailman
I won't waste your time with my revelation
Hello my friend, I see you're back again
Hello mystery, don't bother to explain
How 'bout maybe, its all been in my head
Hey well I'm tired of this black and blue, black and blue
My dear, come again? Your voice is fading out and in
Out of the laundry bin, I found my innocence again
The dog is always barking at the mailman
I won't waste your time with my revelation
Hello my friend, I see you're back again
Hello mystery, don't bother to explain
How 'bout maybe, its all been in my head
Hey well I'm tired of this black and blue, black and blue
Hello my friend, I see you're back again
Hello mystery, don't bother to explain
How 'bout maybe, its all been in my head
Hey well, I'm tired of this black and blue, black and blue
Lyrics submitted by mistakenstrangers, edited by johnnyblueye, Obi, edeninwonderland, Provi1990, sebastookit, Valetion, clueless-daydreams
Black & Blue Lyrics as written by Henrik Nils Jonback Andrew Wyatt Blakemore
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
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This song is so awesome.. In my opinion the way I personally interpret this song is dating someone for an extended period of time, but it never being an "official" relationship. The person who wants more out of the relationship is having an internal conflict with themselves. They realize what they want ( and official relationship) with the person they're dating will probably never happen.
" I won't waste my time with my revelation" The person feels there's no need telling the person their dating how they really feel about their relationship because they know it's not going to change anything. Their "dating" relationship will keep going on the way it is unless they accept the situation for what it is or get out of dating relationship because it will never be an official b/f, g/f committed relationship.
" Hello mystery don't bother to explain, how bout maybe it's all been in my head" The person feels like everything between them and the person their dating is all a misconceived lie. They do everything a committed relationship entitles, but it's not. The other person may tell them things/ act a certain way towards them, but it's not really the reality of the situation. They feel like everything that is going on between them will turn out to be more then what it actually is because of these things. Or maybe they person just wanted to perceive these things as the relationship as being something more then what it actually is ( how bout maybe it's all been in my head). The person is tired of the black and blue relationship. Meaning they are tired of the way the relationship is. They hate how when they are together, they are together and act like an official relationship when they are together, but it's still not an official thing. They almost don't know how to act around the person they are dating because it's that huge gray area of dating. The person wants more and knows nothing is going to come of it.
That's what I think anyways.. I can relate to this song in so many ways.
@kare1127-<br /> <br /> I fully agree with everything you just said. Your analysis of the song completely paralells mine. It's a beautiful song - especially in that the melody is neither cheerful nor sad, but rather almost wistful and forcefully carefree. <br /> <br /> I too have experienced the situation the lyrics depict-- and for a very long period of time at that, so this song is one that definitely hits home for me.