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 gives her body freely cause she can't give herself completely
There are wounds in the way
She cannot bear to be naked to the world so instead she just fakes it with a man
There are wounds in the way
If they would have treated a little girl and a little boy when basically still just a baby
With some respect and human dignity
Maybe there wouldn't be so many failed relationships
We might even had a ghost of a chance of just loving each other - body, mind, and soul
He gives his money freely cause he can't give himself completely
There are wounds in the way.
He cannot bear to be honest with himself; so what the hell, he'll lie to a woman
There are wounds in the way
If they would have treated a little boy and a little girl when basically still just a baby
With some respect and human dignity
Maybe there wouldn't be so many failed relationships
We might even had a ghost of a chance of just loving each other - body, mind, and soul
As time passes by they begin to multiply
There are wounds in the way
Adding up secretly like the rings of an old oak tree
There are wounds in the way
Some old and some new, all stifling, debilitating and cruel
There are wounds in the way
And some are passed down from elder to youth - they don't even belong to you
There are wounds in the way
As time passes through, they begin to accrue a strange sort of value
Some that you think are worth holding onto
Cause you don't want to change who you are - no you don't
He loves her strong and true, but when he gets angry it gets misconstrued into violence
There are wounds...
And she loves him equally
But when she feels misunderstood instead of sharing openly and honestly
She is wounded.
There are wounds in the way (Repeat)
There are wounds in the way
She cannot bear to be naked to the world so instead she just fakes it with a man
There are wounds in the way
If they would have treated a little girl and a little boy when basically still just a baby
With some respect and human dignity
Maybe there wouldn't be so many failed relationships
We might even had a ghost of a chance of just loving each other - body, mind, and soul
He gives his money freely cause he can't give himself completely
There are wounds in the way.
He cannot bear to be honest with himself; so what the hell, he'll lie to a woman
There are wounds in the way
If they would have treated a little boy and a little girl when basically still just a baby
With some respect and human dignity
Maybe there wouldn't be so many failed relationships
We might even had a ghost of a chance of just loving each other - body, mind, and soul
As time passes by they begin to multiply
There are wounds in the way
Adding up secretly like the rings of an old oak tree
There are wounds in the way
Some old and some new, all stifling, debilitating and cruel
There are wounds in the way
And some are passed down from elder to youth - they don't even belong to you
There are wounds in the way
As time passes through, they begin to accrue a strange sort of value
Some that you think are worth holding onto
Cause you don't want to change who you are - no you don't
He loves her strong and true, but when he gets angry it gets misconstrued into violence
There are wounds...
And she loves him equally
But when she feels misunderstood instead of sharing openly and honestly
She is wounded.
There are wounds in the way (Repeat)
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