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.
She makes his coffee, she makes his bed
She does the laundry, she keeps him fed
When she was twenty-one she wore her mother's lace
She said, "forever," with a smile upon her face
She does the carpool, she P.T.A.'s
Doctors and dentists, she drives all day
When she was twenty-nine she delivered number three
And ev'ry Christmas card showed a perfect family
Ev'rything runs right on time
Years of practice and design
Spit and polish till it shines, he thinks he'll keep her
Ev'rything is so benign
The safest place you'll ever find
God forbid you change your mind, he thinks he'll keep her
She packs his suitcase, she sits and waits
With no expression upon her face
When she was thirty-six she met him at their door
She said, "I'm sorry, I don't love you any more"
Ev'rything runs right on time
Years of practice and design
Spit and polish till it shines, he thinks he'll keep her
Ev'rything is so benign
The safest place you'll ever find
God forbid you change your mind, he thinks he'll keep her
For fifteen years she had a job and not one raise in pay
Now she's in the typing pool at minimum wage
Ev'rything runs right on time
Years of practice and design
Spit and polish till it shines, he thinks he'll keep her
Ev'rything is so benign
The safest place you'll ever find
At least until you change your mind (he thinks he'll keep her) all right
She does the laundry, she keeps him fed
When she was twenty-one she wore her mother's lace
She said, "forever," with a smile upon her face
She does the carpool, she P.T.A.'s
Doctors and dentists, she drives all day
When she was twenty-nine she delivered number three
And ev'ry Christmas card showed a perfect family
Ev'rything runs right on time
Years of practice and design
Spit and polish till it shines, he thinks he'll keep her
Ev'rything is so benign
The safest place you'll ever find
God forbid you change your mind, he thinks he'll keep her
She packs his suitcase, she sits and waits
With no expression upon her face
When she was thirty-six she met him at their door
She said, "I'm sorry, I don't love you any more"
Ev'rything runs right on time
Years of practice and design
Spit and polish till it shines, he thinks he'll keep her
Ev'rything is so benign
The safest place you'll ever find
God forbid you change your mind, he thinks he'll keep her
For fifteen years she had a job and not one raise in pay
Now she's in the typing pool at minimum wage
Ev'rything runs right on time
Years of practice and design
Spit and polish till it shines, he thinks he'll keep her
Ev'rything is so benign
The safest place you'll ever find
At least until you change your mind (he thinks he'll keep her) all right
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
He Thinks He'll Keep Her Lyrics as written by Mary Chapin Carpenter Don Schlitz
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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