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.
[The Twilight Zone]
[Doctor:] "But you're not being rational, Miss Tyler.
Now you know you can't expect to live any kind of a life among,
normal people..."
[Miss Tyler:] "I could try... I.. I could wear a mask for this bandage..
or... I wouldn't bother anybody
I'd just go my own way... I'd get a job, any job!
Who are you people anyway?!
What is this state?!
Who makes all these rules and traditions and statutes that
people who are different have to stay away from people
who are normal?
The state isn't God, doctor."
[Doctor:] "Miss Tyler, please.. please..."
[Miss Tyler:] "THE STATE IS NOT GOD!"
I don't bathe in the flesh like the American way...
But I've savored the breathe of American ladies...
Another bee in the petals of a flower choked in the weeds...
Your mother lied when she said she knows of real beauty.. ohhhh
[Doctor:] What is it that makes no difference between
beauty and something.. with talent..?
If you swallow the bait
with a bottle of wine
you can live like a queen
in the open wound of a pretty smile...
Well I ate for hours and hours and hours and I'm still hungry..
I Filled the body with gasoline and let you ignite me.. ohh
I'd only wish I had a match for every baby girl on Earth.
To save them from drowning in their mother's milk after birth..
[Miss Tyler:] "You mean imprisoned, don't you doctor!
You're talking about a ghetto aren't you.
A ghetto designed for freaks!"
You don't sleep in your skin 'cause it makes you feel cheap..
So you hang it next to your bed and hope your bones will still keep.. ohh
yeah!
If you swallow the bait
With a bottle of wine
[Doctor:] "But you're not being rational, Miss Tyler.
Now you know you can't expect to live any kind of a life among,
normal people..."
[Miss Tyler:] "I could try... I.. I could wear a mask for this bandage..
or... I wouldn't bother anybody
I'd just go my own way... I'd get a job, any job!
Who are you people anyway?!
What is this state?!
Who makes all these rules and traditions and statutes that
people who are different have to stay away from people
who are normal?
The state isn't God, doctor."
[Doctor:] "Miss Tyler, please.. please..."
[Miss Tyler:] "THE STATE IS NOT GOD!"
I don't bathe in the flesh like the American way...
But I've savored the breathe of American ladies...
Another bee in the petals of a flower choked in the weeds...
Your mother lied when she said she knows of real beauty.. ohhhh
[Doctor:] What is it that makes no difference between
beauty and something.. with talent..?
If you swallow the bait
with a bottle of wine
you can live like a queen
in the open wound of a pretty smile...
Well I ate for hours and hours and hours and I'm still hungry..
I Filled the body with gasoline and let you ignite me.. ohh
I'd only wish I had a match for every baby girl on Earth.
To save them from drowning in their mother's milk after birth..
[Miss Tyler:] "You mean imprisoned, don't you doctor!
You're talking about a ghetto aren't you.
A ghetto designed for freaks!"
You don't sleep in your skin 'cause it makes you feel cheap..
So you hang it next to your bed and hope your bones will still keep.. ohh
yeah!
If you swallow the bait
With a bottle of wine
Lyrics submitted by kylebuttermore
Southern Comfort Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © THIS ISN'T MUSIC, DYNAMITE MONEY SONGS
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I agree with parasiticlies...the twilight zone recording is following the song perfectly as well
[Miss Tyler:] "I could try... I.. I could wear a mask for this bandage.. or... I wouldn't bother anybody
"You don't sleep in your skin 'cause it makes you feel cheap.."
she is trying to find ways to cover herself up so that she would be acceptable in society,which is often taken to extremes in our culture, where women tend to go to no end to be that "queen"