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.
Sex, sex, sex, sex (yeah)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (yeah)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
Nothing is provocative anymore, even for kids
No room for imagining, 'cause everyone's seen everything
Question what the TV tells you
Question what a pop star sells you
Question mom and question dad
Question good and question bad
If history could set you free (from who you were supposed to be)
If sex in our society (didn't tell a girl who she would be)
'Cause all my life I've tried to fight what history has given me, me
Sex, sex, sex, sex (yeah)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
If women were religiously recognized sexually
We wouldn't have to feel the need to show our ass-ets to feel free
Been there, done that, got the t-shirt
Sold my soul, and yeah, the truth hurts
Tired image of a star, acting naughtier than we really are
If history could set you free (from who you were supposed to be)
If sex in our society (didn't tell a guy who he should be)
'Cause all my life I've tried to fight what history has given me
Sex, sex, sex, sex (yeah)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (yeah)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
All my life I've felt it deep inside of me
All this time was fighting for what I believe
All my life I've tried to hide what history has given me
If history could set you free (from who you were supposed to be)
If sex in our society (didn't tell a guy who he should be)
'Cause all my life I've tried to fight what history has given me
Sex, sex, sex, sex (yeah)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (yeah)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (yeah)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
Nothing is provocative anymore, even for kids
No room for imagining, 'cause everyone's seen everything
Question what the TV tells you
Question what a pop star sells you
Question mom and question dad
Question good and question bad
If history could set you free (from who you were supposed to be)
If sex in our society (didn't tell a girl who she would be)
'Cause all my life I've tried to fight what history has given me, me
Sex, sex, sex, sex (yeah)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
If women were religiously recognized sexually
We wouldn't have to feel the need to show our ass-ets to feel free
Been there, done that, got the t-shirt
Sold my soul, and yeah, the truth hurts
Tired image of a star, acting naughtier than we really are
If history could set you free (from who you were supposed to be)
If sex in our society (didn't tell a guy who he should be)
'Cause all my life I've tried to fight what history has given me
Sex, sex, sex, sex (yeah)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (yeah)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
All my life I've felt it deep inside of me
All this time was fighting for what I believe
All my life I've tried to hide what history has given me
If history could set you free (from who you were supposed to be)
If sex in our society (didn't tell a guy who he should be)
'Cause all my life I've tried to fight what history has given me
Sex, sex, sex, sex (yeah)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (yeah)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la)
Sex, sex, sex, sex (la-la-la-la-la-la-la-la)
Lyrics submitted by thrwmyhrtawy., edited by daisychain26, tiatbh, PuNkMoNkEy113, consultingwho, paradoxicated, Kuraiku
Sex Yeah Lyrics as written by Gregory Kurstin Marina Diamandis
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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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Gender roles and biases.