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.
You know that life feels better
Sitting here alone (sitting here alone)
You know I'm dreaming color
And do the things I want (do the things I want)
Think you got the best of me
Think you've had the last laugh
But you think that everything good is gone
Think you left me broken down
Think that I'll come running back
Maybe you don't know me 'cause you've been gone
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm loner 'cause you're gone
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself, and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
You heard that I was starting over with someone new (someone new)
It tells you where I was moving on, over you
You think I come back
I'd come back swinging
Just try to break me 'cause you see
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm loner 'cause you're gone
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
Thanks to you I got a new thing started
Thanks to you I'm not the brokenhearted
Thanks to you I'm finally thinking 'bout me
You know in the end the day your life was just my weakenin'
In the end
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm loner 'cause you're gone
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, my self and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely 'cause you're gone
I'm not alone
Sitting here alone (sitting here alone)
You know I'm dreaming color
And do the things I want (do the things I want)
Think you got the best of me
Think you've had the last laugh
But you think that everything good is gone
Think you left me broken down
Think that I'll come running back
Maybe you don't know me 'cause you've been gone
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm loner 'cause you're gone
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself, and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
You heard that I was starting over with someone new (someone new)
It tells you where I was moving on, over you
You think I come back
I'd come back swinging
Just try to break me 'cause you see
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm loner 'cause you're gone
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
Thanks to you I got a new thing started
Thanks to you I'm not the brokenhearted
Thanks to you I'm finally thinking 'bout me
You know in the end the day your life was just my weakenin'
In the end
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter
Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm loner 'cause you're gone
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, my self and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me myself and I
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller
Doesn't mean I'm lonely 'cause you're gone
I'm not alone
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