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.
In my own little world it hardly ever rains
I've never gone hungry or always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket shoes on my feet
In my own little world
Population me
I try to stay awake 'til the Sunday morning church
I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give 'til it hurts
And I turn off the news when I don't like what I see
Yeah it's easy to do when it's
Population me
What if there's a bigger picture
What if I'm missing out
What if there's a greater purpose
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world
Stopped at a red light, looked out my window
I saw a carboard sign, said 'Help this homeless widow'
Just above this sign was the face of a human
I thought to myself, 'God, what have I been doing?'
So I rolled down my window and I looked her in the eye
Oh how many times have I just passed her by
I gave her some money then I drove on through
In my own little world there's
Population two
What if there's a bigger picture
What if I'm missing out
What if there's a greater purpose
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world
Ooh, my own little world
Ooh
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Yeah, yeah
I'm going to break my heart for what breaks Yours
Give me open hands and open doors
Put Your light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me
What if there's a bigger picture
What if I'm missing out
What if there's a greater purpose
That I could be living right now
I don't wanna miss what matters
I wanna be reaching out
Show me the greater purpose
So I can start living right now
Outside my own little world, ooh
My own little world, yeah
My own little world, ooh
I've never gone hungry or always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket shoes on my feet
In my own little world
Population me
I try to stay awake 'til the Sunday morning church
I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give 'til it hurts
And I turn off the news when I don't like what I see
Yeah it's easy to do when it's
Population me
What if there's a bigger picture
What if I'm missing out
What if there's a greater purpose
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world
Stopped at a red light, looked out my window
I saw a carboard sign, said 'Help this homeless widow'
Just above this sign was the face of a human
I thought to myself, 'God, what have I been doing?'
So I rolled down my window and I looked her in the eye
Oh how many times have I just passed her by
I gave her some money then I drove on through
In my own little world there's
Population two
What if there's a bigger picture
What if I'm missing out
What if there's a greater purpose
I could be living right now
Outside my own little world
Ooh, my own little world
Ooh
Whoa, whoa, whoa
Yeah, yeah
I'm going to break my heart for what breaks Yours
Give me open hands and open doors
Put Your light in my eyes and let me see
That my own little world is not about me
What if there's a bigger picture
What if I'm missing out
What if there's a greater purpose
That I could be living right now
I don't wanna miss what matters
I wanna be reaching out
Show me the greater purpose
So I can start living right now
Outside my own little world, ooh
My own little world, yeah
My own little world, ooh
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
My Own Little World Lyrics as written by Matthew Joseph West Matthew West
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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