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.
Yeah!
Last Friday night I wasn't me
I was a still life trapped in eternity
I was the focal point of a focus out of ink
And I've been wandering and I live through the garden of your heart ache
Always making a mess, always stumbling out the door
But I don't wanna be an asshole anymore
Woah baby, baby I'll be good to you
I don't wanna be an asshole anymore
Woah baby, baby, I'll be good to you
Baby, baby, I'll be good to you
Another night, I devour the sun
Plunge myself into the depths of oblivion
Yeah somewhere along the way I found wine
Feels damn good just to bleed sometimes
All I ever wanted was to make things right
Usual vital, missing spite
I push my emotions off a bridge,
I've been taking them hostage with a shotgun
Now we're somewhere treading water,
Somewhere lost inside the the man that I'm not
But I don't wanna be an asshole anymore
Woah baby, baby I'll be good to you
I don't wanna be an asshole anymore
Woah baby, baby, I'll be good to you
I'll be good to you
I'll be good, I'll be good, I'll be good
I won't lie no more about where I've been
And I won't pry no more over the people that you're hanging with
You're the only lover that I ever miss
And I've been hopelessly in love with
Look at this tangle of thorns
I don't wanna be an asshole anymore
Yeah, I don't wanna be an asshole anymore
Oh no, no, no
Last Friday night I wasn't me
I was a still life trapped in eternity
I was the focal point of a focus out of ink
And I've been wandering and I live through the garden of your heart ache
Always making a mess, always stumbling out the door
But I don't wanna be an asshole anymore
Woah baby, baby I'll be good to you
I don't wanna be an asshole anymore
Woah baby, baby, I'll be good to you
Baby, baby, I'll be good to you
Another night, I devour the sun
Plunge myself into the depths of oblivion
Yeah somewhere along the way I found wine
Feels damn good just to bleed sometimes
All I ever wanted was to make things right
Usual vital, missing spite
I push my emotions off a bridge,
I've been taking them hostage with a shotgun
Now we're somewhere treading water,
Somewhere lost inside the the man that I'm not
But I don't wanna be an asshole anymore
Woah baby, baby I'll be good to you
I don't wanna be an asshole anymore
Woah baby, baby, I'll be good to you
I'll be good to you
I'll be good, I'll be good, I'll be good
I won't lie no more about where I've been
And I won't pry no more over the people that you're hanging with
You're the only lover that I ever miss
And I've been hopelessly in love with
Look at this tangle of thorns
I don't wanna be an asshole anymore
Yeah, I don't wanna be an asshole anymore
Oh no, no, no
Lyrics submitted by missingfingers, edited by eastmabl, Tig45, Tollo
I Don't Wanna Be an Asshole Anymore Lyrics as written by Greg Barnett Eric Keen
Lyrics © MOTHERSHIP MUSIC PUBLISHING
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"somewhere lost inside the ???????????"
.... the man that I'm not.
Lines I'm not sure about:
Sounds to me like someone came to their senses, but it's probably too late. You know, that guy that thinks the world revolves around him and what he wants to do at all times, the shallow "Mr. Unavailable" type...available to everyone except the person that loves him. He has time to be out drinking with everyone else but no time for his girl. She probably left and this song is his apology. The thing is, it's probably just lies and he'll never change.
I am going out on limb and say that this line:
is actually this: "and I've been wandering nightly through the garden of your heart ache"
This song has a great, almost hidden really positive meaning to it. Especially if you believe the video and lyrics tell the same story.
The meaning is that people can always change, always better themselves.
It seems bleak at first but it's quite positive.
The mystery line (the one that said "using vital missing spite" which makes absolutely no sense) is apparently "years of idleness and spite". Great line!
Correct lyrics from the liner notes of the album:
Yeah! Last Friday night I wasn't me I was a still life trapped in eternity I was the focal point of a focus out of ink
And I’ve been wandering nightly through the garden of your heart ache Always making a mess always stumbling out the door But I don’t wanna be an asshole anymore
Woah baby, baby I’ll be good to you I don’t wanna be an asshole anymore Woah baby, baby, I’ll be good to you Baby, baby, I’ll be good to you
Another night, I devoured the sun And plunged myself into the depths of oblivion Yeah somewhere along the way I found why It feels damn good just to bleed sometimes But all I ever wanted was to make things right The years of idleness and spite Have pushed my emotions off a bridge After taking them hostage with a shotgun Now they’re somewhere treading water, Somewhere lost inside the the man that I'm not But I don’t wanna be an asshole anymore
Woah baby, baby I’ll be good to you I don’t wanna be an asshole anymore Woah baby, baby, I’ll be good to you I’ll be good to you I’ll be good, I’ll be good, I’ll be good
I won’t lie no more about where I’ve been And I won’t pry no more over the people that you’re hanging with Because you’re the only lover that I've ever missed, That I’ve been hopelessly in love with Look at this tangle of thorns I don’t wanna be an asshole anymore Yeah, I don’t wanna be an asshole anymore Oh no, no, no