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.
Our whole existence
Is based on a chance
Of a boxed life and
A failed romance
Our whole existence
Is based on a plan
That clones humans
And shortens life spans
Nobody dares to be true
Everybody wants to be like you
And I'm fine with standing in line
As long as I know what's on the inside
I'm living in a paper based life
Shufflin' through my paper based lies
Not listenin' to what they say
I'm looking through open eyes
I dare to be different
(I have to be different)
Don't wanna be a cliché man
There's gotta be more to life than a box
It's time to start a revolution
My life outlook is askew
Because of what I see in you
My life outlook is an open view
Of a beautiful world nobody knew
My reputation, based on quotation
Is a flaw in the system
My reputation, based on information
Is a rebel with a cause
Nobody dares to be true
Everybody wants to be like you
And I'm fine with standing in line
As long as I know what's on the inside
I'm living in a paper based life
Shufflin' through my paper based lies
Not listenin' to what they say
I'm looking through open eyes
I dare to be different
(I have to be different)
Don't wanna be a cliché man
There's gotta be more to life than a box
It's time to start a revolution
Time to start a revolution..... 1, 2, 3, 4!
Don't be scared to fight for what you believe
People say it's impossible to achieve
But I know we can (We can!)
We need to be our own man!
I stand strong, I talk back
I fight for what I know is right
Against a boxed life
I'm fighting right here with my friends
I stand strong, I talk back
I fight for what I know is right
Against a boxed life
I'm fighting right here with my friends
I stand strong, I talk back
I fight for what I know is right
Against a boxed life
I'm fighting right here with my friends
Is based on a chance
Of a boxed life and
A failed romance
Our whole existence
Is based on a plan
That clones humans
And shortens life spans
Nobody dares to be true
Everybody wants to be like you
And I'm fine with standing in line
As long as I know what's on the inside
I'm living in a paper based life
Shufflin' through my paper based lies
Not listenin' to what they say
I'm looking through open eyes
I dare to be different
(I have to be different)
Don't wanna be a cliché man
There's gotta be more to life than a box
It's time to start a revolution
My life outlook is askew
Because of what I see in you
My life outlook is an open view
Of a beautiful world nobody knew
My reputation, based on quotation
Is a flaw in the system
My reputation, based on information
Is a rebel with a cause
Nobody dares to be true
Everybody wants to be like you
And I'm fine with standing in line
As long as I know what's on the inside
I'm living in a paper based life
Shufflin' through my paper based lies
Not listenin' to what they say
I'm looking through open eyes
I dare to be different
(I have to be different)
Don't wanna be a cliché man
There's gotta be more to life than a box
It's time to start a revolution
Time to start a revolution..... 1, 2, 3, 4!
Don't be scared to fight for what you believe
People say it's impossible to achieve
But I know we can (We can!)
We need to be our own man!
I stand strong, I talk back
I fight for what I know is right
Against a boxed life
I'm fighting right here with my friends
I stand strong, I talk back
I fight for what I know is right
Against a boxed life
I'm fighting right here with my friends
I stand strong, I talk back
I fight for what I know is right
Against a boxed life
I'm fighting right here with my friends
Lyrics submitted by ashley1050
Paper Based Lies Lyrics as written by Matt Martin Jacob Linde
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
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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