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.
Here's a tear, for a souvenir
And a dream, that's torn at the seams
Here's a promise you made to me
Of the tomorrow I'll never see
And then you're free to go
But I can't give back the love
I feel for you
I'm gonna be stuck with it
No matter what I do
Take these arms that held you close
I thought I was the one you needed the most
Take these hands, they're no good to me
That used to touch you so tenderly
But I can't give back the love
That's a part of me
If you want just a little bit
You have to take all of me
Here's a ring
That didn't mean a thing
And the letters you wrote
That gave my young heart hope
Take the pillow where my dreams were made
And the mind, where the thought of you stayed
But baby, you should know
That I can't give back the love
I feel for you
I'm gonna be stuck with it
No matter what I do
Take these eyes that once could see
Now reflections of a misery
The hapiness I thought would last
Now a becoming just a thing of the past
But I can't give back the love
That's a part of me
If you want just a little bit
You have to take all of me
No, I can't give back
No, I feel for you
Oh, I'm gonna be stuck
No matter what I do
'Cause it'll grow 'til the world
Don't go 'round no more
But I can't give back the love
I feel for you
I'm gonna be stuck with it
No matter what I do
But I can't give back the love
I feel for you
I'm gonna be stuck with it
No matter what I do
But I can't give back the love
I feel for you
I'm gonna be stuck with it
No matter what I do
And a dream, that's torn at the seams
Here's a promise you made to me
Of the tomorrow I'll never see
And then you're free to go
But I can't give back the love
I feel for you
I'm gonna be stuck with it
No matter what I do
Take these arms that held you close
I thought I was the one you needed the most
Take these hands, they're no good to me
That used to touch you so tenderly
But I can't give back the love
That's a part of me
If you want just a little bit
You have to take all of me
Here's a ring
That didn't mean a thing
And the letters you wrote
That gave my young heart hope
Take the pillow where my dreams were made
And the mind, where the thought of you stayed
But baby, you should know
That I can't give back the love
I feel for you
I'm gonna be stuck with it
No matter what I do
Take these eyes that once could see
Now reflections of a misery
The hapiness I thought would last
Now a becoming just a thing of the past
But I can't give back the love
That's a part of me
If you want just a little bit
You have to take all of me
No, I can't give back
No, I feel for you
Oh, I'm gonna be stuck
No matter what I do
'Cause it'll grow 'til the world
Don't go 'round no more
But I can't give back the love
I feel for you
I'm gonna be stuck with it
No matter what I do
But I can't give back the love
I feel for you
I'm gonna be stuck with it
No matter what I do
But I can't give back the love
I feel for you
I'm gonna be stuck with it
No matter what I do
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
I Can't Give Back the Love I Feel for You Lyrics as written by Nickolas Ashford Brian Holland
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
I Can't Give Back the Love I Feel For You [Alternate Vocal] song meanings
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