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 MANY TIMES DO YOU HEAR IT?
IT GOES ON ALL DAY LONG
EVERYONE KNOWS EVERYTHING
AND NO ONE'S EVER WRONG
UNTIL LATER
WHO CAN YOU BELIEVE?
IT'S HARD TO PLAY IT SAFE
BUT APART FROM A FEW GOOD FRIENDS
WE DON'T TAKE ANYTHING ON FAITH
UNTIL LATER
SHOW DON'T TELL
YOU'VE FIGURED OUT THE SCORE
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
I'VE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
YOU CAN TWIST PERCEPTIONS
REALITY WON'T BUDGE
YOU CAN RAISE OBJECTIONS
I WILL BE THE JUDGE
AND THE JURY
I'LL GIVE IT DUE REFLECTION
WATCHING FROM THE FENCE
GIVE THE JURY DIRECTION
BASED ON THE EVIDENCE
I, THE JURY
SHOW DON'T TELL
HEY, ORDER IN THE COURT
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
LET'S TRY TO KEEP IT SHORT
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
ENOUGH OF YOUR DEMANDS
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
WITNESS, TAKE THE STAND
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME) (SOLO)
SHOW DON'T TELL
SHOW DON’T TELL
HEY, ORDER IN THE COURT
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
LET'S TRY TO KEEP IT SHORT
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
LET'S SEE EXHIBIT A
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
YOU'VE FIGURED OUT THE SCORE
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
I'VE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
ENOUGH OF YOUR DEMANDS
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
WITNESS TAKE THE STAND
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
HEY
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
IT GOES ON ALL DAY LONG
EVERYONE KNOWS EVERYTHING
AND NO ONE'S EVER WRONG
UNTIL LATER
WHO CAN YOU BELIEVE?
IT'S HARD TO PLAY IT SAFE
BUT APART FROM A FEW GOOD FRIENDS
WE DON'T TAKE ANYTHING ON FAITH
UNTIL LATER
SHOW DON'T TELL
YOU'VE FIGURED OUT THE SCORE
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
I'VE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
YOU CAN TWIST PERCEPTIONS
REALITY WON'T BUDGE
YOU CAN RAISE OBJECTIONS
I WILL BE THE JUDGE
AND THE JURY
I'LL GIVE IT DUE REFLECTION
WATCHING FROM THE FENCE
GIVE THE JURY DIRECTION
BASED ON THE EVIDENCE
I, THE JURY
SHOW DON'T TELL
HEY, ORDER IN THE COURT
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
LET'S TRY TO KEEP IT SHORT
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
ENOUGH OF YOUR DEMANDS
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
WITNESS, TAKE THE STAND
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME) (SOLO)
SHOW DON'T TELL
SHOW DON’T TELL
HEY, ORDER IN THE COURT
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
LET'S TRY TO KEEP IT SHORT
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU SAY
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
LET'S SEE EXHIBIT A
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
YOU'VE FIGURED OUT THE SCORE
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
I'VE HEARD IT ALL BEFORE
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
ENOUGH OF YOUR DEMANDS
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
WITNESS TAKE THE STAND
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
HEY
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
(SHOW ME, DON'T TELL ME)
Lyrics submitted by snowandlights
Show Don't Tell Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © OLE MEDIA MANAGEMENT LP
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