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.
Dream yourself awake
Can't make it through the night
Wicked dreams will haunt you
When the morning light shines
You try to find your way outside
Just another day
You try to let them shine
The people disappoint you
Makes you wonder why you cry
You can almost see the end of you
So come on stand up
Yeah put your hands up
It ain't wrong to be strong
And it's gonna be gone
And then they won't come back to you
No, no, no, no, wake up
Try not to break up
If they're holding you down
Then you rise to the top
Cause you're a bad, bad girl
And you just can't stop, no, no, no
Give yourself a break
Listen to your heart
Let your conscience guide you
Never let your guard down
Find out the best of you
Everything you do
And what is done to you
Doesn't have to change you
It only makes you stronger and stronger
The more they take away from you
So come on stand up
Yeah, put your hands up
It ain't wrong to be strong
And it's gonna be gone
And then they won't come back to you
No, no, no, no, wake up
Try not to break up
If they're holding you down
Then you rise to the top
Cause you're a bad, bad girl
And you just can't stop, no, no, no
Cause you're a bad, bad girl
And you just can't stop, no, no, no
You won't lead no beggars life
And you sure don't need their bad advice
Or their five cents worth of what they think of you
Sometimes they're not so into you
Keep your head up above that line, you know
Everybody loses sometimes
Shame, shame, shame
The things they've done to you
So come on stand up
Yeah, put your hands up
It ain't wrong to be strong
And it's gonna be gone
And then they won't come back to you
No, no, no, no, wake up
Try not to break up
If they're holding you down
Then you rise to the top
Cause you're a bad, bad girl
And you just can't stop, no, no, no
Can't make it through the night
Wicked dreams will haunt you
When the morning light shines
You try to find your way outside
Just another day
You try to let them shine
The people disappoint you
Makes you wonder why you cry
You can almost see the end of you
So come on stand up
Yeah put your hands up
It ain't wrong to be strong
And it's gonna be gone
And then they won't come back to you
No, no, no, no, wake up
Try not to break up
If they're holding you down
Then you rise to the top
Cause you're a bad, bad girl
And you just can't stop, no, no, no
Give yourself a break
Listen to your heart
Let your conscience guide you
Never let your guard down
Find out the best of you
Everything you do
And what is done to you
Doesn't have to change you
It only makes you stronger and stronger
The more they take away from you
So come on stand up
Yeah, put your hands up
It ain't wrong to be strong
And it's gonna be gone
And then they won't come back to you
No, no, no, no, wake up
Try not to break up
If they're holding you down
Then you rise to the top
Cause you're a bad, bad girl
And you just can't stop, no, no, no
Cause you're a bad, bad girl
And you just can't stop, no, no, no
You won't lead no beggars life
And you sure don't need their bad advice
Or their five cents worth of what they think of you
Sometimes they're not so into you
Keep your head up above that line, you know
Everybody loses sometimes
Shame, shame, shame
The things they've done to you
So come on stand up
Yeah, put your hands up
It ain't wrong to be strong
And it's gonna be gone
And then they won't come back to you
No, no, no, no, wake up
Try not to break up
If they're holding you down
Then you rise to the top
Cause you're a bad, bad girl
And you just can't stop, no, no, no
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Stand Up Lyrics as written by Richard Smith Karl Hyde
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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,
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