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.
People tell me to be cautious
People tell me not to lose my self control
People tell me to be flawless
People tell me not to let myself evolve
And I think I don't really get it
I think it's all just a peculiar game
And soon I'll wake up and I'll forget it
And everyone will know me by a different name
I wanted to be stronger
I wanted to be everything for you
If I could be stronger would you believe
That I could love you like you want me to?
Love me like you want me to
Like you want me to
Love me like you want me to
Like you want me to
I held my breath every time
I tried to keep myself dry
But did I ask too much?
If I could do it again
Would you believe what I said
That I still want that rush
And I think I don't really get it
I think it's all just a peculiar game
And soon I'll wake up and I'll forget it
And everyone will know me by a different name
I wanted to be stronger
I wanted to be everything for you
If I could be stronger would you believe
That I could love you like you want me to?
I want to be strong for you, oh
(Love me like you want me to, like you want me to)
I want be strong for you
(Love me like you want me to)
I want be strong for you
And I can, yes I can
If only you could promise that you will try too
I'll be there, I'll be there
I want to be strong for you
If only you could promise that you will try too
I'll be there, I'll be there
I wanted to be stronger
I wanted to be everything for you
If I could be stronger would you believe
That I could love you like you want me to?
I wanted to be stronger
I wanted to be everything for you
If I could be stronger would you believe
That I could love you like you want me to?
Love me like you want me to
Like you want me to
Love me like you want me to
Like you want me to
People tell me not to lose my self control
People tell me to be flawless
People tell me not to let myself evolve
And I think I don't really get it
I think it's all just a peculiar game
And soon I'll wake up and I'll forget it
And everyone will know me by a different name
I wanted to be stronger
I wanted to be everything for you
If I could be stronger would you believe
That I could love you like you want me to?
Love me like you want me to
Like you want me to
Love me like you want me to
Like you want me to
I held my breath every time
I tried to keep myself dry
But did I ask too much?
If I could do it again
Would you believe what I said
That I still want that rush
And I think I don't really get it
I think it's all just a peculiar game
And soon I'll wake up and I'll forget it
And everyone will know me by a different name
I wanted to be stronger
I wanted to be everything for you
If I could be stronger would you believe
That I could love you like you want me to?
I want to be strong for you, oh
(Love me like you want me to, like you want me to)
I want be strong for you
(Love me like you want me to)
I want be strong for you
And I can, yes I can
If only you could promise that you will try too
I'll be there, I'll be there
I want to be strong for you
If only you could promise that you will try too
I'll be there, I'll be there
I wanted to be stronger
I wanted to be everything for you
If I could be stronger would you believe
That I could love you like you want me to?
I wanted to be stronger
I wanted to be everything for you
If I could be stronger would you believe
That I could love you like you want me to?
Love me like you want me to
Like you want me to
Love me like you want me to
Like you want me to
Lyrics submitted by PeterLewis
Stronger Lyrics as written by Grace Chatto Jack Patterson
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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This is one of the few songs which I can just listen to repeatedly. I cannot put a firm interpretation on it, other than that I think the persona singing wishes that they had done something better out of their life. I feel this is backed up in the music video where the bloke is shown to be a bus driver which isn't exactly the best job in the world, so he wishes he had become something better and everyone knew him by a "different name", not just a bus driver.
I think this is from the perspective of someone who had the chance of love with someone but was either too scared to admit it to them or was scared to love them in general. The first stanza consists of the things they thought they had to do in order to love:
People tell me to be cautious (Don't have a lot of trust for someone)
People tell me not to lose my self-control (Don't be that passionate)
People tell me to be flawless (You have to look and act perfect or else no one will want you)
People tell me not to let myself evolve (Don't let love change you [for the better])
And they're looking back on it and realizing how much of a game that is,and they don't understand it at all now. When they say people will know them by a "different name",I think they're talking about a kind of person who is confident in love and loves openly.
They never used to,holding their breath to the words 'I love you' and not getting wet from [I'm guessing] the 'rain',as in the severity of being in love. They realize that that's asking a lot from your own emotions and well-being,and they wonder if the person they fell for would believe that they DO love them,due to not making it clear/known.
Eventually,they realize they can love,and they tell the other person to love them like they want to,as they'll reciprocate it with certainty now. It's really encouraging,and empowering,and always fun to listen to. :)