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.
Psychotherapist once claimed I had acute neurosis
Well I only said a couple words and he made his diagnosis
He said I could say whatever I want because I never chose this
So I spat, grinned, then I looked at him and I blew him a glass cold kiss behind
Knows just when I let a bottom be dead
Never too sure if it's the truth or a lie
I'm not asking for your pity, woe is me sarcastically
I'm not losing sleep pathetically while waxing so poetically
But I'm waning waiting alphabetically
As I keep dropping bombs
Dropping bombs
Dropping bombs apologetically
It was a wicked whimpering winter plagued night
When my tongue grew wings and took to flight
The thought had never crossed my mind before that moment
Is the truth so bent, it can't be broken
Jealousy got the best of me and had a conference with the rest of me
And said if this is all that's left for me then there's so little room for regret
Little voice
Little voice
Little voice inside
Said if you don't regret nothing then you might as well be dead
Might as well be dead
So I apologize, mostly to the four of my guys
Who stand behind me on the stage every night
As the mic starts to whisper
And the words start to blister in my mouth, that I know aren't right
I gotta get back to who I was before my last ten years on auto-pilot
It's the mask that quite often starts to eat into your face
So wear it lightly like a cap that can quickly be replaced
I gotta get back to who I was before my last ten years on auto-pilot
So tell me again how my life should have been before I was spineless
Before I gave in
Because everybody thinks it's timeless
Well time's running out
One thing I'll never regret is I never shed my face
Well I only said a couple words and he made his diagnosis
He said I could say whatever I want because I never chose this
So I spat, grinned, then I looked at him and I blew him a glass cold kiss behind
Knows just when I let a bottom be dead
Never too sure if it's the truth or a lie
I'm not asking for your pity, woe is me sarcastically
I'm not losing sleep pathetically while waxing so poetically
But I'm waning waiting alphabetically
As I keep dropping bombs
Dropping bombs
Dropping bombs apologetically
It was a wicked whimpering winter plagued night
When my tongue grew wings and took to flight
The thought had never crossed my mind before that moment
Is the truth so bent, it can't be broken
Jealousy got the best of me and had a conference with the rest of me
And said if this is all that's left for me then there's so little room for regret
Little voice
Little voice
Little voice inside
Said if you don't regret nothing then you might as well be dead
Might as well be dead
So I apologize, mostly to the four of my guys
Who stand behind me on the stage every night
As the mic starts to whisper
And the words start to blister in my mouth, that I know aren't right
I gotta get back to who I was before my last ten years on auto-pilot
It's the mask that quite often starts to eat into your face
So wear it lightly like a cap that can quickly be replaced
I gotta get back to who I was before my last ten years on auto-pilot
So tell me again how my life should have been before I was spineless
Before I gave in
Because everybody thinks it's timeless
Well time's running out
One thing I'll never regret is I never shed my face
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
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/
It's definitely:
"mostly to the four or five guys"