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.
Allow me to break it down
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Life, hmm
This is dedicated to all my folks
Diagnosed with a bad case of that proper upbringin'
And never took the time to fall in line or follow
Or swallow the thoughts
Of the recognized committees who lurk throughout ya cities
Ya hood, ya town, no matter which type
You from the same type of people try to hold you down
Just because you tailor made for bigger and better things
Never missed a chance to move ahead of things
And what does it bring? I tell you for me
It brought jealousy in back wounds from all the stabbin'
Cats posin' as my fan just to get grabbin' what's mine
I'm livin' in times where my daughters are found around
Kids who can't afford thinkin' caps
But always found drinkin' raps and eatin' on beats
Claimin' laws of the streets, but who made the laws?
Everybody playin' rebel with no sign of a cause
Well, I feel the world around me
I've found that others will bring you down just to be down
You've got to make up your mind where you want to be (make your mind)
Where you want to go with your life (yo)
With your life
I'm never singin' the blues but findin' the clues to maintain
And I been blessed to reign supreme over nearly every dream
I had and I made it come true
I'm an imperfect man and I'm holdin' the clue
To perfection, it doesn't seem to matter what direction I look
I find people settin' traps
Tryin' to find the goal, without havin' any maps
Even friends of mine, jumped online just to become my adversary
They felt they were entitled to the dairy I made
They don't come to chill or behave
And they got toast ready to burn
Not learnin' to live but they yearnin' to take what you earn
Well, I feel the world around me
I've found that others will bring you down just to be down, you see
You've got to make up your mind where you want to be
Where you want to go with your life
With your life
Yeah, yeah (alright)
So quick to place blame and deny the shame we bring upon ourselves
So many names held accountable for my own account
When a large amount was weighed, that I made and shaped
When I climbed, I found
It was hard to find others around to point my fingers at
Which made me realize the truth
The biggest suppressor could be your own ego lookin' for an excuse
To plant roots, in a field of self-sorrow
To sprout and follow the first thing you feel
Nourishes your hunger to be respected, it gets hectic
And when I'm watchin' the news, and my daughter walks in
And choose to ask, "Why were all those people on the floor
Sleepin', covered in red?" I told her
That they were lookin' for God, but found religion instead
Well, I feel the world around me
I've found (I've found)
Others will bring you down (others will bring you down)
Just to be down, you see (to be down)
You've got to make up your mind where you want to be
And where you want to go with your life (where you want to be)
With your life (with your life)
Ohh, yeah
Ohh, yeah (others will bring you down)
Sometimes (sometimes, sometimes, ohh)
You got to walk alone, alone
Oh, yeah, yeah, I need, ooh, to breathe, yeah
I need my space, to, to live
Y'all know, ohh (yeah)
Well, I feel the world around me
I've found (I've found)
Others will bring you down (others will bring you down)
Just to be down, you see (to be down)
You've got to make up your mind where you want to be
And where you want to go with your life (where you want to be)
With your life (with your life)
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Life, hmm
This is dedicated to all my folks
Diagnosed with a bad case of that proper upbringin'
And never took the time to fall in line or follow
Or swallow the thoughts
Of the recognized committees who lurk throughout ya cities
Ya hood, ya town, no matter which type
You from the same type of people try to hold you down
Just because you tailor made for bigger and better things
Never missed a chance to move ahead of things
And what does it bring? I tell you for me
It brought jealousy in back wounds from all the stabbin'
Cats posin' as my fan just to get grabbin' what's mine
I'm livin' in times where my daughters are found around
Kids who can't afford thinkin' caps
But always found drinkin' raps and eatin' on beats
Claimin' laws of the streets, but who made the laws?
Everybody playin' rebel with no sign of a cause
Well, I feel the world around me
I've found that others will bring you down just to be down
You've got to make up your mind where you want to be (make your mind)
Where you want to go with your life (yo)
With your life
I'm never singin' the blues but findin' the clues to maintain
And I been blessed to reign supreme over nearly every dream
I had and I made it come true
I'm an imperfect man and I'm holdin' the clue
To perfection, it doesn't seem to matter what direction I look
I find people settin' traps
Tryin' to find the goal, without havin' any maps
Even friends of mine, jumped online just to become my adversary
They felt they were entitled to the dairy I made
They don't come to chill or behave
And they got toast ready to burn
Not learnin' to live but they yearnin' to take what you earn
Well, I feel the world around me
I've found that others will bring you down just to be down, you see
You've got to make up your mind where you want to be
Where you want to go with your life
With your life
Yeah, yeah (alright)
So quick to place blame and deny the shame we bring upon ourselves
So many names held accountable for my own account
When a large amount was weighed, that I made and shaped
When I climbed, I found
It was hard to find others around to point my fingers at
Which made me realize the truth
The biggest suppressor could be your own ego lookin' for an excuse
To plant roots, in a field of self-sorrow
To sprout and follow the first thing you feel
Nourishes your hunger to be respected, it gets hectic
And when I'm watchin' the news, and my daughter walks in
And choose to ask, "Why were all those people on the floor
Sleepin', covered in red?" I told her
That they were lookin' for God, but found religion instead
Well, I feel the world around me
I've found (I've found)
Others will bring you down (others will bring you down)
Just to be down, you see (to be down)
You've got to make up your mind where you want to be
And where you want to go with your life (where you want to be)
With your life (with your life)
Ohh, yeah
Ohh, yeah (others will bring you down)
Sometimes (sometimes, sometimes, ohh)
You got to walk alone, alone
Oh, yeah, yeah, I need, ooh, to breathe, yeah
I need my space, to, to live
Y'all know, ohh (yeah)
Well, I feel the world around me
I've found (I've found)
Others will bring you down (others will bring you down)
Just to be down, you see (to be down)
You've got to make up your mind where you want to be
And where you want to go with your life (where you want to be)
With your life (with your life)
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Held Down Lyrics as written by Jean Claude Vannier Serge Gainsbourg
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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