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.
La da da da
La da da da
La da da da da da da da
La da da da
La da da da
La da da da da da da da
Spotlight glaring down
Silence from the crowd
The circus is just beginning
I tremble, looking around
I would hate to fall and hit the ground
In front of all these people
That wouldn't be pleasant
So the music plays
And the trapeze sways
And my heart is beating faster
But all I hear is laughter
From the crowd
Cause they see right through my gaze
Would you please tell me
What I gotta be
For you to want me
For you to want me, yeah
Cause I am
Just trying to understand
Why you don't love me
Why you don't love me for me
There is someone who loves you for you
I keep lying to myself
Trying to be somebody else
In front of all these people
I feel really foolish
And when the main attraction at the masquerade
If I keep goin' like this, I'm gonna go insane
Is this circus act all I'll ever be?
Yeah...
Would you please tell me
What I gotta be
For you to want me
For you to want me, yeah
Cause I am
Just playing a losing hand
If you don't love me
If you don't love me for me
There is someone who loves you for you
God loves you and me
Let me tell you it's the kind of love that's given free
And it doesn't fake
And it doesn't flake
And it doesn't play those games
God loves me and you
Let me tell you it's the kind of love
It's real, it's true
And it doesn't lie
And it's doesn't cheat
After it takes you off your feet
So just... tell me
What I gotta be
For you to want me
For you to want me, yeah
Cause I am
Just trying to understand
Why you don't love me
Why you don't love me for me
Tell me
What I gotta be
For you to want me
For you to want me, yeah
Cause I am
Just playing a losing hand
If you don't love me
If you don't love me for me
[repeat 2 times]
La da da da
La da da da
La da da da da da da da
La da da da
La da da da
La da da da da da da da
God is someone who loves you for you
La da da da
La da da da da da da da
La da da da
La da da da
La da da da da da da da
Spotlight glaring down
Silence from the crowd
The circus is just beginning
I tremble, looking around
I would hate to fall and hit the ground
In front of all these people
That wouldn't be pleasant
So the music plays
And the trapeze sways
And my heart is beating faster
But all I hear is laughter
From the crowd
Cause they see right through my gaze
Would you please tell me
What I gotta be
For you to want me
For you to want me, yeah
Cause I am
Just trying to understand
Why you don't love me
Why you don't love me for me
There is someone who loves you for you
I keep lying to myself
Trying to be somebody else
In front of all these people
I feel really foolish
And when the main attraction at the masquerade
If I keep goin' like this, I'm gonna go insane
Is this circus act all I'll ever be?
Yeah...
Would you please tell me
What I gotta be
For you to want me
For you to want me, yeah
Cause I am
Just playing a losing hand
If you don't love me
If you don't love me for me
There is someone who loves you for you
God loves you and me
Let me tell you it's the kind of love that's given free
And it doesn't fake
And it doesn't flake
And it doesn't play those games
God loves me and you
Let me tell you it's the kind of love
It's real, it's true
And it doesn't lie
And it's doesn't cheat
After it takes you off your feet
So just... tell me
What I gotta be
For you to want me
For you to want me, yeah
Cause I am
Just trying to understand
Why you don't love me
Why you don't love me for me
Tell me
What I gotta be
For you to want me
For you to want me, yeah
Cause I am
Just playing a losing hand
If you don't love me
If you don't love me for me
[repeat 2 times]
La da da da
La da da da
La da da da da da da da
La da da da
La da da da
La da da da da da da da
God is someone who loves you for you
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Love Me for Me Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
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