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 wasn't gonna drink tonight, then I went to a bar
I wasn't gonna start that fight but they pushed me way too far,
And oooh, ooh, ooh, oooooh, you would never know,
Oooh, ooh, ooh, oooooh, you would never know
I wasn't gonna watch the game, now I'm shouting at the ball
I checked my phone and saw your name, so I must of missed your call
I wasn't gonna place that bet, but they said it'd take the fault
Now my clothes smell like cigarettes, but I don't smoke at all,
Oooooh, you would never know,
Oooh, ooh, ooh, oooooh, you would never know
Oooh, and I was out, having fun, and I was out of line
When I thought I was staying young I was staying out in my mind
Life is like an old cassette, that you can't rewind
Now my clothes smell like cigarettes and it happens all the time
Oooh, ooh, ooh, oooooh, you would never know,
Oooh, ooh, ooh, oooooh, you would never know
love and sex and TV sets, we never left my room
I used to speak of old regrets, maybe I spoke too soon
I thought that I did my best, now I know that isn't true
Coz my clothes smell like cigarettes, and they used to smell like you
Uh, hey etc etc
(Used to smell like you)
Hey, used to smell like you heyy-yeah
(Used to smell like you)
Hey yeah
What happened, what happened oh-ho-oh
I thought I did my best, now I know that isn't true
Now my clothes smell like cigarettes, when they used to smell like you
I wasn't gonna start that fight but they pushed me way too far,
And oooh, ooh, ooh, oooooh, you would never know,
Oooh, ooh, ooh, oooooh, you would never know
I wasn't gonna watch the game, now I'm shouting at the ball
I checked my phone and saw your name, so I must of missed your call
I wasn't gonna place that bet, but they said it'd take the fault
Now my clothes smell like cigarettes, but I don't smoke at all,
Oooooh, you would never know,
Oooh, ooh, ooh, oooooh, you would never know
Oooh, and I was out, having fun, and I was out of line
When I thought I was staying young I was staying out in my mind
Life is like an old cassette, that you can't rewind
Now my clothes smell like cigarettes and it happens all the time
Oooh, ooh, ooh, oooooh, you would never know,
Oooh, ooh, ooh, oooooh, you would never know
love and sex and TV sets, we never left my room
I used to speak of old regrets, maybe I spoke too soon
I thought that I did my best, now I know that isn't true
Coz my clothes smell like cigarettes, and they used to smell like you
Uh, hey etc etc
(Used to smell like you)
Hey, used to smell like you heyy-yeah
(Used to smell like you)
Hey yeah
What happened, what happened oh-ho-oh
I thought I did my best, now I know that isn't true
Now my clothes smell like cigarettes, when they used to smell like you
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