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 ask if I'm sorry, well let me say this
Been here at the bottom since I was a kid
My mother was sorry when I saw the day
She just couldn't help it, I'm sorry to say
Well, it seemed as if everyone else had the right
To bite any pieces of me that they liked
They beat me and hurt me till I ran away
And if they were sorry, they just didn't say
Sorry, sorry
My mother was sorry when I saw the day
Sorry, sorry
She just couldn't help it, I'm sorry to say
I gatecrashed a party in downtown L.A.
With pretty young people, successful and gay
I tied 'em all up, then I blew them away
I just couldn't help it, I'm sorry to say
Sorry, sorry
I tied them all up, then I blew them away
Sorry, sorry
I just couldn't help it, I'm sorry to say
You hordes of reporters and video crews
I don't understand all these words that you use
I question myself as you ask me your whys
I don't know how to deal with the sorry thing, guys
Well, I understand rules, regulations and force
Procedure is easy, I understand war
I understand, angry day after day
But sorry's beyond me, I'm sorry to say
Sorry, sorry
I understand, angry day after day
Sorry, sorry
Sorry's beyond me, I'm sorry to say
Been here at the bottom since I was a kid
My mother was sorry when I saw the day
She just couldn't help it, I'm sorry to say
Well, it seemed as if everyone else had the right
To bite any pieces of me that they liked
They beat me and hurt me till I ran away
And if they were sorry, they just didn't say
Sorry, sorry
My mother was sorry when I saw the day
Sorry, sorry
She just couldn't help it, I'm sorry to say
I gatecrashed a party in downtown L.A.
With pretty young people, successful and gay
I tied 'em all up, then I blew them away
I just couldn't help it, I'm sorry to say
Sorry, sorry
I tied them all up, then I blew them away
Sorry, sorry
I just couldn't help it, I'm sorry to say
You hordes of reporters and video crews
I don't understand all these words that you use
I question myself as you ask me your whys
I don't know how to deal with the sorry thing, guys
Well, I understand rules, regulations and force
Procedure is easy, I understand war
I understand, angry day after day
But sorry's beyond me, I'm sorry to say
Sorry, sorry
I understand, angry day after day
Sorry, sorry
Sorry's beyond me, I'm sorry to say
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Sorry Lyrics as written by Darron Robinson Oliver Howard Knights
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,