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.
Is it the pain of the drinking or the Sunday sinking feeling? Oh
The car never seems to work
When it's late, your girlfriend's on a date
And the hero with her in your dream in your sleep seemed like you
Turn around, ask yourself
Turn around, ask yourself
Manchild, will you ever win?
Manchild, look at the state you're in, yeah
Could you go undercover and sell your brand new lover?
Could you be someone else for a night?
Maybe someone else will love you
You'd sell your soul for a tacky song
Like the one you hear on the radio
Turn around, ask yourself
Turn around, ask yourself
Manchild, will you ever win?
Manchild, look at the state you're in, yeah
Manchild, he will make you cry
Manchild, manchild, manchild
From Monday down to Friday
You're working on another man's car
Or is it in the factory?
It doesn't matter where you are
Just turn around and ask yourself, is this communication?
Accentuate the positive and give some illustration
See, manchild, you're no one, you turn the microphone on
Control communication when I'm kicking it and so on
To the point that I need the air that I breathe
Into an audience that's waiting and ecstatic to receive
For the meantime another mean rhyme (I keep on saying it)
I know what the time is and the crowd will keep on playing it
Through the speaker boxes, loud's my diagnosis
'Cause I believe in miracles and words in steady doses
Enough R-E-S-P-E and C-T
Respect yourself, express, no stress, the mic is easy
Just believe that all you need is the air that you breathe
(Ask yourself)
Manchild, will you ever win?
Manchild, look at the state you're in, yeah
Manchild, he will make you cry
Manchild, manchild, manchild
He's the apple of your eye
Once bitten, twice shy, why don't you bite me again?
Just take it in right and go tell your friend (tell your friend)
Are you ready for the words? I turn the microphone on
A figure of speech to reach you at the back and so on
The style I'm stimulating dance floors
Raise your body temperatures now and this demands for
Power's in the amp', you know loud's my diagnosis
'Cause I believe in miracles, words in heavy doses
The car never seems to work
When it's late, your girlfriend's on a date
And the hero with her in your dream in your sleep seemed like you
Turn around, ask yourself
Turn around, ask yourself
Manchild, will you ever win?
Manchild, look at the state you're in, yeah
Could you go undercover and sell your brand new lover?
Could you be someone else for a night?
Maybe someone else will love you
You'd sell your soul for a tacky song
Like the one you hear on the radio
Turn around, ask yourself
Turn around, ask yourself
Manchild, will you ever win?
Manchild, look at the state you're in, yeah
Manchild, he will make you cry
Manchild, manchild, manchild
From Monday down to Friday
You're working on another man's car
Or is it in the factory?
It doesn't matter where you are
Just turn around and ask yourself, is this communication?
Accentuate the positive and give some illustration
See, manchild, you're no one, you turn the microphone on
Control communication when I'm kicking it and so on
To the point that I need the air that I breathe
Into an audience that's waiting and ecstatic to receive
For the meantime another mean rhyme (I keep on saying it)
I know what the time is and the crowd will keep on playing it
Through the speaker boxes, loud's my diagnosis
'Cause I believe in miracles and words in steady doses
Enough R-E-S-P-E and C-T
Respect yourself, express, no stress, the mic is easy
Just believe that all you need is the air that you breathe
(Ask yourself)
Manchild, will you ever win?
Manchild, look at the state you're in, yeah
Manchild, he will make you cry
Manchild, manchild, manchild
He's the apple of your eye
Once bitten, twice shy, why don't you bite me again?
Just take it in right and go tell your friend (tell your friend)
Are you ready for the words? I turn the microphone on
A figure of speech to reach you at the back and so on
The style I'm stimulating dance floors
Raise your body temperatures now and this demands for
Power's in the amp', you know loud's my diagnosis
'Cause I believe in miracles, words in heavy doses
Lyrics submitted by Iantuition
Manchild Lyrics as written by Robert Del Naja Neneh Cherry
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Great version of a great song,
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enamorata, your interpretation is kind of harsh. The meaning of the song is more clear if you have heard the Old School Mix of the song, which begins like this:
Working, day in, day out they got you working, day in day out making your living chained to the payroll you got so tired you lost your soul all your dreams and all your aspirations have turned into frustrations you can't admit to what you really feel so you've been acting weird your ego makes you nasty the lady that you really love went out with another guy the kind of guy you wanna be the kind of guy you really are if you would have treated her right she wouldn't have left you, right the simple things in life will bring you happiness nothing you can buy will get rid of your loneliness treat the one you love with a lot of respect and maybe then you can love yourself (turn around and ask yourself)
So, the singer is an outside observator, not a love interest. The manchild in the song is someone who loves his girlfriend, but hides his feelings by being tough and unfeeling and acting weird towards her. That's why this girl has left him and is now on a date with another guy who treats her right. The singer is trying to convoy a message that the manchild should stop playing games, start communicating his feelings and being more honest, therefore being the hero he longed to be all along. The singer is actually very encouraging: "just take it in, right, and go tell your friend". I think this song sends a very positive and empowering message to everyone who is afraid to express their feelings honestly ("the mike is easy, just believe that all you need is the air that you breathe").