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.
hey hey baby i see it too
it looks like someones got the best of you
write it down in ones and twos, you don't know how it rates
but everytime i see your face, i know just what it means
everytime i see your face, i know just what it means
hey hey baby i see it too
oh my god i'll disappear
every single persons got their hands in here
taken me for all i'm worth, it sounds like greed to me
but every time i hear your voice, i don't know how to sing
i've been down for the lonely once
i'm two steps away and i can't forget
that i've been out and it's been so long
foots in my mouth and i've got to breathe
and i've been out and i'm so old
all i know is i got caught in the wave, and i see it too
oh my god here it comes again
bet you know just where i left it
take me out, i know you're there
but don't talk back to me
and all i know is when you're here, i don't know how to speak
i've been down for the lonely once
i'm two steps away and i can't forget
that i've been out and it's been so long
my foots in my mouth cause i talked way too much today
where and when everybody knows my name today, and i see it too
it looks like someones got the best of you
write it down in ones and twos, you don't know how it rates
but everytime i see your face, i know just what it means
everytime i see your face, i know just what it means
hey hey baby i see it too
oh my god i'll disappear
every single persons got their hands in here
taken me for all i'm worth, it sounds like greed to me
but every time i hear your voice, i don't know how to sing
i've been down for the lonely once
i'm two steps away and i can't forget
that i've been out and it's been so long
foots in my mouth and i've got to breathe
and i've been out and i'm so old
all i know is i got caught in the wave, and i see it too
oh my god here it comes again
bet you know just where i left it
take me out, i know you're there
but don't talk back to me
and all i know is when you're here, i don't know how to speak
i've been down for the lonely once
i'm two steps away and i can't forget
that i've been out and it's been so long
my foots in my mouth cause i talked way too much today
where and when everybody knows my name today, and i see it too
Lyrics submitted by bowie89
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.