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.
Yeah, I been in debt from conception
And I'll pay for the rest of your life
As long as I mail my bills and look me in the eye
You can have it now, but you gotta pay for it later
Oh, you work me up, I pay my plan
Now you're working for the man, yeah
They got you goin' in
They got you comin' out
Same amount, woo, in 'n' out
There ain't no way 'round the system
Money makes this world go 'round
All the way, they got you down
Sing and add it up for throwing yourself out the window, oh
My conscience loves to stick around
One more payment, lay it down on the ground
Well, they got you comin' in
They got you goin' out
Same amount, woo, in 'n' out, oh
Uh, uh, uh, yeah
Uh, uh, uh, yeah
Uh, uh, uh, yeah
Woo, come on
Hey, it all depends how you see it
It's a plan or an opportunity
One thing for certain, you're gettin' nothin' free
I never met a man doesn't owe somebody somethin', no
No way to get free and clear
Only deeper, year after year, oh yeah
Well, they got you comin' in
Well, they got you goin' out
Got you comin' in for the same amount
Goin' out
Uh, uh, uh, yeah
(In 'n' out) uh, uh, uh, yeah
(In 'n' out) uh, uh, uh, yeah
(In 'n' out) uh, uh, uh, yeah
(In 'n' out)
Well, they got you goin' in
They got you comin' out
Same amount, in 'n' out
Uh, uh, uh (in 'n' out)
Uh, uh, uh (in 'n' out)
Uh, uh, uh (in 'n' out)
Uh, uh, uh (in 'n' out)
Oh, they got you comin' in for the same amount
Goin' out, in 'n' out
Uh, uh, uh (in 'n' out)
Yeah, they got you comin' in
And I'll pay for the rest of your life
As long as I mail my bills and look me in the eye
You can have it now, but you gotta pay for it later
Oh, you work me up, I pay my plan
Now you're working for the man, yeah
They got you goin' in
They got you comin' out
Same amount, woo, in 'n' out
There ain't no way 'round the system
Money makes this world go 'round
All the way, they got you down
Sing and add it up for throwing yourself out the window, oh
My conscience loves to stick around
One more payment, lay it down on the ground
Well, they got you comin' in
They got you goin' out
Same amount, woo, in 'n' out, oh
Uh, uh, uh, yeah
Uh, uh, uh, yeah
Uh, uh, uh, yeah
Woo, come on
Hey, it all depends how you see it
It's a plan or an opportunity
One thing for certain, you're gettin' nothin' free
I never met a man doesn't owe somebody somethin', no
No way to get free and clear
Only deeper, year after year, oh yeah
Well, they got you comin' in
Well, they got you goin' out
Got you comin' in for the same amount
Goin' out
Uh, uh, uh, yeah
(In 'n' out) uh, uh, uh, yeah
(In 'n' out) uh, uh, uh, yeah
(In 'n' out) uh, uh, uh, yeah
(In 'n' out)
Well, they got you goin' in
They got you comin' out
Same amount, in 'n' out
Uh, uh, uh (in 'n' out)
Uh, uh, uh (in 'n' out)
Uh, uh, uh (in 'n' out)
Uh, uh, uh (in 'n' out)
Oh, they got you comin' in for the same amount
Goin' out, in 'n' out
Uh, uh, uh (in 'n' out)
Yeah, they got you comin' in
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
In 'n' Out Lyrics as written by Edward Van Halen Alex Van Halen
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Seems like a song about the work-a-day life. Living paycheck to paycheck, sweating bills, hoping your credit card goes through. It's a cycle you gotta break out of, but it's hard to do.