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.
She left her clothes in Kansas
Ever since we stepped on campus
Ever since she left her classes
So she could fill some glasses
She want a photograph
8 by 11 dreams
She's got that self-worth
She learned at 17
And I could work with that
Been working all week
She's been flirtin' all night
Wishing she could own me
But I come with a lot of baggage
And a lot of ego, and a lot of fashion
Just drop that prada bag
And we could probably make tonight pop
And she said
Let me down easy
But stay with me tonight
Say you don't need me
But stay with me tonight
She left her cares on the bedpost
Next to the lipstick and the mentos
Evian and a candy necklace
She goes to places her friends won't
She's in the backyard
Under a starry sky
I'm thinking backseat
She's looking for the key
And I could work with that
Been working all month
She's been flirting all night
Lady I'm the wrong one
And she said
Let me down easy
But stay with me tonight
You say you don't need me
But stay with me tonight
Let me down easy
But stay with me tonight
(Tonight tonight)
Say you don't need me
But stay with me tonight
She was like "who was that singing?"
I was off in the back room drinking
Sippin' something thinkin' nothing
When I heard my phone start ringin'
She was like, don't pick it up
'Cause tonight I ain't in love
And I just can't be here with nobody's trust
She left her friends in high school
She's thinking "why do I like you?
If I just make-do with a nice dude
I could make it to the white picket fence crew"
But it just won't work like that
When I wake it's on the road
You could take me in your room
But you can't take me home
She said
Let me down easy
But stay with me tonight
Say you don't need me
But stay with me tonight
Let me down easy
But stay with me tonight tonight
Say you don't need me
But stay with me tonight
Let me down easy
But stay with me tonight
You say you don't need me
You say it's alright
Let me down easy
But stay with me tonight tonight
Say you don't need me
But stay with me tonight
Ever since we stepped on campus
Ever since she left her classes
So she could fill some glasses
She want a photograph
8 by 11 dreams
She's got that self-worth
She learned at 17
And I could work with that
Been working all week
She's been flirtin' all night
Wishing she could own me
But I come with a lot of baggage
And a lot of ego, and a lot of fashion
Just drop that prada bag
And we could probably make tonight pop
And she said
Let me down easy
But stay with me tonight
Say you don't need me
But stay with me tonight
She left her cares on the bedpost
Next to the lipstick and the mentos
Evian and a candy necklace
She goes to places her friends won't
She's in the backyard
Under a starry sky
I'm thinking backseat
She's looking for the key
And I could work with that
Been working all month
She's been flirting all night
Lady I'm the wrong one
And she said
Let me down easy
But stay with me tonight
You say you don't need me
But stay with me tonight
Let me down easy
But stay with me tonight
(Tonight tonight)
Say you don't need me
But stay with me tonight
She was like "who was that singing?"
I was off in the back room drinking
Sippin' something thinkin' nothing
When I heard my phone start ringin'
She was like, don't pick it up
'Cause tonight I ain't in love
And I just can't be here with nobody's trust
She left her friends in high school
She's thinking "why do I like you?
If I just make-do with a nice dude
I could make it to the white picket fence crew"
But it just won't work like that
When I wake it's on the road
You could take me in your room
But you can't take me home
She said
Let me down easy
But stay with me tonight
Say you don't need me
But stay with me tonight
Let me down easy
But stay with me tonight tonight
Say you don't need me
But stay with me tonight
Let me down easy
But stay with me tonight
You say you don't need me
You say it's alright
Let me down easy
But stay with me tonight tonight
Say you don't need me
But stay with me tonight
Lyrics submitted by amyxrainbow
Let Me Down Easy Lyrics as written by Marc Griffin David Dalton
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Dreamwalker
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
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/
Album version lyrics:
She left her clothes in Kansas Ever since we stepped on campus Ever since she left her classes So she could fill some glasses She want a photograph 8 by 11 dreams She's got that self-worth She learned at 17
And I could work with that Been workin' all week She's been flirtin' all night Wishin' she could own me But I come with a lot of baggage And a lot of ego, and a lot of fashion Just drop that Prada bag And I could probably make tonight pop And she said:
Let me down easy But stay with me tonight Say you don't need me But stay with me tonight
She left her cares on the bedpost Next to the lipstick and the mentos Avian and a candy necklace She goes to places her friends won't She's in the backyard Under a stary scene I'm thinkin' backseat She's lookin' for the keys
And I could work with that Been workin' all month She's been flirtin' all night Lady I'm the wrong one And she said:
Let me down easy But stay with me tonight Say you don't need me But stay with me tonight Let me down easy But stay with me tonight (Tonight) Say you don't need me But stay with me tonight
She was like who was that singin'? I was off in the back room drinkin' Savin' somethin' thinkin' nothin' When I heard my phone start ringin' She was like, don't pick it up Cuz' tonight I ain't in love And I just can't deal with nobody's trust
She left her friends in high school She's thinkin' why do I like you? If I just make do with a nice dude I could make it to the white picket fence crew But it just won't work like that When I wake it's on the road You could take me in your room But you can't take me home And she said:
Let me down easy But stay with me tonight Say you don't need me But stay with me tonight Let me down easy But stay with me tonight (Tonight)
Say you don't need me But stay with me tonight Let me down easy But stay with me tonight Say you don't need me You say it's alright Let me down easy But stay with me tonight