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.
I don't wanna argue about who is the victim
'Cause maybe we both got burned
I don't wanna talk about who is the traitor
'Cause both of our loyalties turned
I don't wanna fight about who is the liar
'Cause there's too many ways to lie
I don't wanna hear about who is the winner
'Cause we both know it's a tie
Cut it out, drop it, count me out, baby stop it
Life is too short, so why waste precious time
Life is too short, so why waste precious time
You were on a liquid diet, you were sure you had to try it
And you lost all your pounds
The doctor's on vacation, so you took the medication
And wound up in lost and found
So we took a trip to Paris
'Cause you swore that it would scare us out of our swift decline
All that I remember 'bout those days in that September
Is the merci and the wine
Cut it out, drop it, count me out, baby stop it
Life is too short, so why waste precious time
Life is too short, so why waste
Precious time, precious time, precious time
Oh, precious time
Life is too short, so why waste precious time
You talk on the telephone, long distance to New York or Rome
Some would say you got it made
Your home is like a fortress, no one comes in but the florist
The gardener, and the maid
You call me on the telephone, you say you feel so alone
Too tired to get dressed and get out
First you're happy, then you're sad
Somehow you always hang up mad
Excuse me if I shout
Cut it out, drop it, count me out, baby stop it
Life is too short, so why waste precious time
Life is too short, so why waste precious time
Life is too short, so why waste precious time
Precious time, precious time, oh precious time
Life is too short, so why waste precious time
'Cause maybe we both got burned
I don't wanna talk about who is the traitor
'Cause both of our loyalties turned
I don't wanna fight about who is the liar
'Cause there's too many ways to lie
I don't wanna hear about who is the winner
'Cause we both know it's a tie
Cut it out, drop it, count me out, baby stop it
Life is too short, so why waste precious time
Life is too short, so why waste precious time
You were on a liquid diet, you were sure you had to try it
And you lost all your pounds
The doctor's on vacation, so you took the medication
And wound up in lost and found
So we took a trip to Paris
'Cause you swore that it would scare us out of our swift decline
All that I remember 'bout those days in that September
Is the merci and the wine
Cut it out, drop it, count me out, baby stop it
Life is too short, so why waste precious time
Life is too short, so why waste
Precious time, precious time, precious time
Oh, precious time
Life is too short, so why waste precious time
You talk on the telephone, long distance to New York or Rome
Some would say you got it made
Your home is like a fortress, no one comes in but the florist
The gardener, and the maid
You call me on the telephone, you say you feel so alone
Too tired to get dressed and get out
First you're happy, then you're sad
Somehow you always hang up mad
Excuse me if I shout
Cut it out, drop it, count me out, baby stop it
Life is too short, so why waste precious time
Life is too short, so why waste precious time
Life is too short, so why waste precious time
Precious time, precious time, oh precious time
Life is too short, so why waste precious time
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Precious Time Lyrics as written by Billy Steinberg
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.