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.
tell me why that every time you cry
i could just stare right in your eyes
and i see a flame
the only thing that i have against
is your respect but its just all the same
do you think
that your the only one that ever made it to something
do you think
that im the only one that ever gave you nothing
do you think
at all
at all
i swear that you don't no
do oh do you think
please don't ask
ask me for nothing now
cause i cannot shout out loud is what im saying
i gave you more
more than i ever could
but now that its nothing lest what your paying
oh baby you left me
oh nothing can help me
oh im so alone
oh baby you loved me
oh baby you owe me
you owe me some gratitude everybody
oh why why did you leave me home like you going fiesta ?
why did did i name you my friend of the ?
why do we all hold this together
why oh
you know exactly what im saying
you know exactly what im preaching
you know exactly what we're telling
we're telling you to move
and you know exactly what i'm saying
you know exactly what im doing
you know exactly what im saying
im saying to you
im saying to you
i could just stare right in your eyes
and i see a flame
the only thing that i have against
is your respect but its just all the same
do you think
that your the only one that ever made it to something
do you think
that im the only one that ever gave you nothing
do you think
at all
at all
i swear that you don't no
do oh do you think
please don't ask
ask me for nothing now
cause i cannot shout out loud is what im saying
i gave you more
more than i ever could
but now that its nothing lest what your paying
oh baby you left me
oh nothing can help me
oh im so alone
oh baby you loved me
oh baby you owe me
you owe me some gratitude everybody
oh why why did you leave me home like you going fiesta ?
why did did i name you my friend of the ?
why do we all hold this together
why oh
you know exactly what im saying
you know exactly what im preaching
you know exactly what we're telling
we're telling you to move
and you know exactly what i'm saying
you know exactly what im doing
you know exactly what im saying
im saying to you
im saying to you
Lyrics submitted by musicx
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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