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.
Truth of the matter is I'm complicated
You're as straight as they come
You go 'bout your day baby
While I hide from the sun
It's better if you don't understand
'Cause you won't know what it's like
Until you try
You know I, I'll be waiting on the other side
And you, all you gotta do is cross the line
I could wait a whole life time
But you just gotta decide
You know I, I'll be waiting on the other
Waiting on the other side
We would live forever
Who could ask for more
You could die if you wanted
But baby what for
It's better if you don't understand
And you won't know what it's like
Until you try
You know I, I'll be waiting on the other side
And you, all you gotta do is cross the line
I could wait a whole life time
But you just gotta decide
You know I, I'll be waiting on the other
Waiting on the other side
If they say life's a dream
Call this insomnia
'Cause this ain't Wonderland
It damn sure ain't Narnia
And once you cross the line
You can't change your mind
Yeah I'm a monster
But I'm no Frankenstein
And quite frankly
I've been feeling insane in between my eyes
I really can't explain what I feel inside
If you knew what I was you'd run and hide
Many have tried to go into the night
Cross over the line and come back alive
But that's the price we pay when we living on the other side
You know I, I'll be waiting on the other side
And you, all you gotta do is cross the line
I could wait a whole life time
But you just gotta decide
You know I, I'll be waiting on the other
Waiting on the other side
It's better if you don't understand
It's better if you don't understand
It's better if you don't understand
It's better if you don't understand
It's better if you don't understand
It's better if you don't understand
You're as straight as they come
You go 'bout your day baby
While I hide from the sun
It's better if you don't understand
'Cause you won't know what it's like
Until you try
You know I, I'll be waiting on the other side
And you, all you gotta do is cross the line
I could wait a whole life time
But you just gotta decide
You know I, I'll be waiting on the other
Waiting on the other side
We would live forever
Who could ask for more
You could die if you wanted
But baby what for
It's better if you don't understand
And you won't know what it's like
Until you try
You know I, I'll be waiting on the other side
And you, all you gotta do is cross the line
I could wait a whole life time
But you just gotta decide
You know I, I'll be waiting on the other
Waiting on the other side
If they say life's a dream
Call this insomnia
'Cause this ain't Wonderland
It damn sure ain't Narnia
And once you cross the line
You can't change your mind
Yeah I'm a monster
But I'm no Frankenstein
And quite frankly
I've been feeling insane in between my eyes
I really can't explain what I feel inside
If you knew what I was you'd run and hide
Many have tried to go into the night
Cross over the line and come back alive
But that's the price we pay when we living on the other side
You know I, I'll be waiting on the other side
And you, all you gotta do is cross the line
I could wait a whole life time
But you just gotta decide
You know I, I'll be waiting on the other
Waiting on the other side
It's better if you don't understand
It's better if you don't understand
It's better if you don't understand
It's better if you don't understand
It's better if you don't understand
It's better if you don't understand
Lyrics submitted by Roihu
The Other Side Lyrics as written by Bruno Mars Ari Levine
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
Yeah I'm also pretty sure it's about drugs or something similar related to seedy nightlife, maybe also a mental issue. It's left open so it can fit your particular vice!
I think it would be perfect in Twilight or another similar vampire movie though!
However, I do think it was written about drugs or related psychosis.
"I'm complicated/you're as straight as they come" I have issues; you don't partake in any vices, but I have tons. ("straight" also refers to someone who doesn't party/do drugs. this usage was more popular before the word took on the meaning of heterosexuality. bruno mars has an old school vocabulary, so it makes sense that he would use "straight" to mean someone who refrains from drugs.)
"I hide from the sun" doesn't have to refer to vampires. It can refer to seedy nightlife. He goes out at night because that's when all the bad stuff happens, all the parties. I myself hide from the sun, and even though I'm pale, I'm not a vampire. I'm just a miscreant who prefers the night.
"you won't know what it's like until you try" suggests that it is a particular activity of some sort. of course this line is great for a vampire parallel. good for breaking dawn especially.
"cross the LINE" coke reference? it's stretching it, i dunno. otherwise it could be more general, because once you try something you're stuck and corrupted, kind of like drug virginity (lol that sounds so stupid)
"If they say life's a dream call this insomnia" lucidity that can be related to drugs, but also any other nightmare of a life, so any major problem.
"'Cause this ain't Wonderland it damn sure ain't Narnia" you can't talk about wonderland without drugs. it's alluding to tripping into an alternate universe, but it's not so great because they have lots of problems. like using a drug to run away from all your issues. the fact that it ISN'T is part of a theme throughout the song of something painfully ordinary. he can't escape from the reality of his own life, no matter how hard he tries. similar to "i'm a monster/but i'm no frankenstein" which of course counters the idea that it's about twilight. it's saying that the speaker is a real person. "i'm a monster" because he has these problems/addiction, but frankenstein represents the supernatural, and I think a lot of this song is consciously going the other direction, about some serious real life problem, and, as i said, the desire to escape but inability to do so completely. however, this can get twilighty if you want, because twilight makes vampires very ordinary. so...
i wonder if that made sense. to be honest i'm just procrastinating doing my homework, that's why i gave such a long analysis.
YES!! I agree completely with your analysis. I think it really is about drugs or related psychosis. Perhaps he knows, deep inside, that he has a problem, but he is still a human being. "I'm a monster, but I'm no frankenstein"..... maybe he feels like a "monster" (or just an out of control human) with this addiction, but he knows he's no "frankenstein", meaning he's not freak or threat or wretched human being. I hope that makes sense. <br /> <br /> I also understand the psychopathy theory. I often feel unstable in that sense and can actually wrap my mind around the song in that sense.