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.
You think I'm pretty
Without any make-up on
You think I'm funny
When I tell the punch line wrong
I know you get me
So I'll let my walls come down, down
Before you met me
I was alright
But things were kinda heavy
You brought me to life
Now every February
You'll be my Valentine, Valentine
Let's go all the way tonight
No regrets, just love
We can dance until we die
You and I
We'll be young forever
You make me feel like I'm living a, teenage, dream
The way you turn me on
I, can't, sleep
Let's run away
And don't ever look back
Don't ever look back
My, heart, stops
When you look at me
Just, one, touch
Now baby I believe
This, is, real
So take a chance
And don't ever look back
Don't ever look back
We drove to Cali
And got drunk on the beach
Got a motel and
Built a fort out of sheets
I finally found you
My missing puzzle piece
I'm complete
Let's go all the way tonight
No regrets, just love
We can dance until we die
You and I
We'll be young forever
You make me feel like I'm living a, teenage, dream
The way you turn me on
I, can't, sleep
Let's runaway
And don't ever look back
Don't ever look back
My, heart, stops
When you look at me
Just, one, touch
Now baby I believe
This, is, real
So take a chance
And don't ever look back
Don't ever look back
I'ma get your heart racing
In my skin-tight jeans
Be your teenage dream tonight
Let you put your hands on me
In my skin-tight jeans
Be your teenage dream tonight
You, make, me feel like I'm living a, teenage, dream
The way you turn me on
I, can't, sleep
Let's runaway
And don't ever look back
Don't ever look back
My, heart, stops
When you look at me
Just one touch
Now baby I believe
This, is, real
So take a chance
And don't ever look back
Don't ever look back
I'ma get your heart racing
In my skin-tight jeans
Be your teenage dream tonight
Let you put your hands on me
In my skin-tight jeans
Be your teenage dream tonight (tonight, tonight, tonight)
Without any make-up on
You think I'm funny
When I tell the punch line wrong
I know you get me
So I'll let my walls come down, down
Before you met me
I was alright
But things were kinda heavy
You brought me to life
Now every February
You'll be my Valentine, Valentine
Let's go all the way tonight
No regrets, just love
We can dance until we die
You and I
We'll be young forever
You make me feel like I'm living a, teenage, dream
The way you turn me on
I, can't, sleep
Let's run away
And don't ever look back
Don't ever look back
My, heart, stops
When you look at me
Just, one, touch
Now baby I believe
This, is, real
So take a chance
And don't ever look back
Don't ever look back
We drove to Cali
And got drunk on the beach
Got a motel and
Built a fort out of sheets
I finally found you
My missing puzzle piece
I'm complete
Let's go all the way tonight
No regrets, just love
We can dance until we die
You and I
We'll be young forever
You make me feel like I'm living a, teenage, dream
The way you turn me on
I, can't, sleep
Let's runaway
And don't ever look back
Don't ever look back
My, heart, stops
When you look at me
Just, one, touch
Now baby I believe
This, is, real
So take a chance
And don't ever look back
Don't ever look back
I'ma get your heart racing
In my skin-tight jeans
Be your teenage dream tonight
Let you put your hands on me
In my skin-tight jeans
Be your teenage dream tonight
You, make, me feel like I'm living a, teenage, dream
The way you turn me on
I, can't, sleep
Let's runaway
And don't ever look back
Don't ever look back
My, heart, stops
When you look at me
Just one touch
Now baby I believe
This, is, real
So take a chance
And don't ever look back
Don't ever look back
I'ma get your heart racing
In my skin-tight jeans
Be your teenage dream tonight
Let you put your hands on me
In my skin-tight jeans
Be your teenage dream tonight (tonight, tonight, tonight)
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so catchyyy(: okay just to clarify, THEYRE NOT TEENAGERS. theyre both grownups but he makes her feel like shes living a teenage dream (as in, she feels like a teenager again) and the teenage dream is to like fall in love (i guess?) and he makes her heart race and stuff. and shes not promoting teen sex. cause theyre not teenagers! besides its not like teens dont think about that stuff, cause they do
You don't have to be a teenager to live the teenage dream. She's with a guy that she loves (or lusts after) and they decide to go all the way. Due to this chain of events she feels like she is a teenager again. No, I am not a teenager anymore, but was one and I know how teenagers think. Do we need to go back to health class? Your teenager years is when you gain your sex drive and many teenagers fail to keep those newly gained passions in check. High school girls getting pregnant these days is not out of the norm, which is sad. Even teenagers who keep their passions in check have feelings for the opposite gender and sex crosses their minds. Thus is why the teenage dream is to have sex. Whether or not you do is another story, but the word "dream" is the key here. <br /> <br /> Now after our health lesson, back to the song. Katy Perry (yes Katy Perry isn't a teenager anymore, thanks for stating the obvious) gets with a guy and "lives the teenage dream". She goes all the way. However you want to say it, it all means the same thing. Now in the last half of the song, after describing her experience, she states 4 times to "be your teenage dream tonight". One of those 4 times being the last line of the song. Going to English class, now, that statement is a command and "be" is a verb. She's telling someone to go do something. She encouraging. She's promoting. What is she promoting? The teenage dream? What is that? Sex. Now this is terrible. People, teenagers especially, should wait for marriage before doing that. Not something anyone should promote in a song. The only way to justify this song is if Katy Perry is singing to married couples. Is Katy Perry doing that? I highly doubt it.<br /> <br /> Come on, people. Think. Pay attention to the details.
This song may or may not 'promote' or 'suggest' teenage sex.<br /> Yeah. So what? It happens. <br /> This song is not going to alter whether kids have sex or not.<br /> It doesn't matter, just listen to the damn song.
Oh, so just because the kids are doing it anyway and will continue to do it regardless, it makes it ok to sing about? How about trying to promote good behavior in your songs. Is that too much too ask for? No, but it is for Katy Perry. She's too much of slut. Her songs never have a positive message.
Good point, Robyn 193564
My favourite part of that whole speech, alienator345, was this bit; 'What is she promoting? The teenage dream? What is that? Sex. Now this is terrible.'<br /> hahahaha, get over it, it's a song.
It IS just a song XD even if she WAS promoting teenage sex, it still wouldn't matter, because teenagers are still gonna have sex no matter what they listen to! It's just part of life, so get over it XD