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.
Remember that trip we took in Mexico?
Yeah, hanging with the boys and all your señoritas
I never spoke up, yeah, I never said hello
But I keep on trying to find a way to meet ya
Yeah
I was chillin', you were with him
Hooked up by the fire
Now he's long gone
I'm like, "So long"
Now I got my chance
Now I, now I got my chance
Like damn
You could be the one that could mess me up
You could be the one that'll break me
Damn
All them other girls said they had enough
You could be the one that'll take me
I was solo, living YOLO
'Til you blew my mind
Like damn
You can be the one that could mess me up
I can't let you
Can't let you pass me by
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
I can't let you pass me by
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
I can't let you pass me by
I was trying to play too cool to get caught up
Like too fun, too young to fall to pieces
I know a girl like you can't ever get enough
So I'm addicted, trippin', trying to get you to see this
The way I need you, like I'm seen through
Dancing out my pants
Got you shooking, caught you looking
Now I got my chance
Now I, now I got my chance
Like damn
You could be the one that could mess me up
You could be the one that'll break me
Damn
All them other girls said they had enough
You could be the one that'll take me
I was solo, living YOLO
'Til you blew my mind
Like damn
You could be the one that can mess me up
I can't let you, can't let you pass me by
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
I can't let you pass me by
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
I can't let you pass me by
It's like
Everywhere I look and everywhere I go
A million other guys be staring and I know that
I can be yours and you can be mine
I just can't let you pass me by – by – by
Everywhere I look and everywhere I go
A million other guys be staring and I know that
I can be yours and you can be mine
I just can't let you pass me by – by – by
Like damn
You could be the one that could mess me up
You could be the one that'll break me
Damn
All them other girls said they had enough
You could be the one that'll take me
I was solo, living YOLO
'Til you blew my mind
('Til you blew my mind)
Like damn
You could be the one that can mess me up
I can't let you, can't let you pass me by
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
I can't let you pass me by
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
I can't let you pass me by
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
(Yeah girl)
I can't let you pass me by
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
(Can't let you go)
Yeah, I can't let you pass me by
Yeah, hanging with the boys and all your señoritas
I never spoke up, yeah, I never said hello
But I keep on trying to find a way to meet ya
Yeah
I was chillin', you were with him
Hooked up by the fire
Now he's long gone
I'm like, "So long"
Now I got my chance
Now I, now I got my chance
Like damn
You could be the one that could mess me up
You could be the one that'll break me
Damn
All them other girls said they had enough
You could be the one that'll take me
I was solo, living YOLO
'Til you blew my mind
Like damn
You can be the one that could mess me up
I can't let you
Can't let you pass me by
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
I can't let you pass me by
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
I can't let you pass me by
I was trying to play too cool to get caught up
Like too fun, too young to fall to pieces
I know a girl like you can't ever get enough
So I'm addicted, trippin', trying to get you to see this
The way I need you, like I'm seen through
Dancing out my pants
Got you shooking, caught you looking
Now I got my chance
Now I, now I got my chance
Like damn
You could be the one that could mess me up
You could be the one that'll break me
Damn
All them other girls said they had enough
You could be the one that'll take me
I was solo, living YOLO
'Til you blew my mind
Like damn
You could be the one that can mess me up
I can't let you, can't let you pass me by
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
I can't let you pass me by
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
I can't let you pass me by
It's like
Everywhere I look and everywhere I go
A million other guys be staring and I know that
I can be yours and you can be mine
I just can't let you pass me by – by – by
Everywhere I look and everywhere I go
A million other guys be staring and I know that
I can be yours and you can be mine
I just can't let you pass me by – by – by
Like damn
You could be the one that could mess me up
You could be the one that'll break me
Damn
All them other girls said they had enough
You could be the one that'll take me
I was solo, living YOLO
'Til you blew my mind
('Til you blew my mind)
Like damn
You could be the one that can mess me up
I can't let you, can't let you pass me by
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
I can't let you pass me by
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
I can't let you pass me by
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
(Yeah girl)
I can't let you pass me by
Oh oh, oh oh, oh oh
(Can't let you go)
Yeah, I can't let you pass me by
Lyrics submitted by MusicLover16
Pass Me By Lyrics as written by Andrew Maxwell Goldstein Evan Bogart
Lyrics © Takwene LLC, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Walt Disney Music Company, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
awsome song
This song is about a male who wants too start a relationship with a taken girl.