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.
Narrative:
The inspiration of the sonnets has always been something of a mystery. All we know for certain is that some were written to a dark lady. A sonnet about jealous love.
---
Ophelia:
(...) Their perfume lost, take these again; for to the noble mind. Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind. There, my lord.
Hamlet:
Are you honest?
Ophelia:
My lord?
Hamlet:
Are you fair?
Ophelia:
What means your lordship? (...)
Hamlet:
I did love you once.
Ophelia:
Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so.
Hamlet:
You should not have believed me, I loved you not.
Ophelia:
I was the more deceived.
Hamlet:
Get thee to a nunnery! Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners? (...) We are arrant knaves all; believe none of us. Go thy ways to a nunnery.
Ophelia:
O, help him, you sweet heavens!
Hamlet:
If thou dost marry, I'll give thee this plague for thy dowry: be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. (...) Or if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool; for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them.
---
???:
(...) Hair on the head of John the Baptist. (x3)
(...) Hair on the head of John the Baptist. (???)
(...) Hair on the head of John the Baptist. Oh God!
Hamlet:
(...) I loved you not.
---
Queen:
Thou know'st 'tis common: all that lives must die,
Passing through nature to eternity.
Hamlet:
Ay, madam, it is common.
Queen:
If it be,
Why seems it so particular with thee?
Hamlet:
Seems, madam? nay, it is, I know not "seems."
(...) seem,
For they are actions that a man might play;
But I have that within (...)
---
(...) Hair on the head of John the Baptist. (???)
(...) Hair on the head of John the Baptist. Oh God!
(Both lines: x4)
---
Henry V:
So, when this loose behavior I throw off
And pay the debt I never promised,
By how much better than my word I am,
By so much shall I falsify men's hopes;
(...)
I'll so offend, to make offence a skill;
Redeeming time when men think least I will.
---
Judas, (???)
---
Prince:
For worms, (...) fare thee well, great heart. (...)
Adieu, and take thy praise with thee to heaven!
Thy ignominy sleep with thee in the grave,
But not remember'd in thy epitaph!
Gertrude:
This bodiless creation ecstasy
Is very cunning in.
Hamlet:
Ecstasy?
Hamlet:
I must be cruel, only to be kind;
Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind.
Henry V:
Presume not that I am the thing I was,
For God doth know, so shall the world perceive,
That I have turn'd away my former self;
So will I those that kept me company.
The inspiration of the sonnets has always been something of a mystery. All we know for certain is that some were written to a dark lady. A sonnet about jealous love.
---
Ophelia:
(...) Their perfume lost, take these again; for to the noble mind. Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind. There, my lord.
Hamlet:
Are you honest?
Ophelia:
My lord?
Hamlet:
Are you fair?
Ophelia:
What means your lordship? (...)
Hamlet:
I did love you once.
Ophelia:
Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so.
Hamlet:
You should not have believed me, I loved you not.
Ophelia:
I was the more deceived.
Hamlet:
Get thee to a nunnery! Why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners? (...) We are arrant knaves all; believe none of us. Go thy ways to a nunnery.
Ophelia:
O, help him, you sweet heavens!
Hamlet:
If thou dost marry, I'll give thee this plague for thy dowry: be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. (...) Or if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool; for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them.
---
???:
(...) Hair on the head of John the Baptist. (x3)
(...) Hair on the head of John the Baptist. (???)
(...) Hair on the head of John the Baptist. Oh God!
Hamlet:
(...) I loved you not.
---
Queen:
Thou know'st 'tis common: all that lives must die,
Passing through nature to eternity.
Hamlet:
Ay, madam, it is common.
Queen:
If it be,
Why seems it so particular with thee?
Hamlet:
Seems, madam? nay, it is, I know not "seems."
(...) seem,
For they are actions that a man might play;
But I have that within (...)
---
(...) Hair on the head of John the Baptist. (???)
(...) Hair on the head of John the Baptist. Oh God!
(Both lines: x4)
---
Henry V:
So, when this loose behavior I throw off
And pay the debt I never promised,
By how much better than my word I am,
By so much shall I falsify men's hopes;
(...)
I'll so offend, to make offence a skill;
Redeeming time when men think least I will.
---
Judas, (???)
---
Prince:
For worms, (...) fare thee well, great heart. (...)
Adieu, and take thy praise with thee to heaven!
Thy ignominy sleep with thee in the grave,
But not remember'd in thy epitaph!
Gertrude:
This bodiless creation ecstasy
Is very cunning in.
Hamlet:
Ecstasy?
Hamlet:
I must be cruel, only to be kind;
Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind.
Henry V:
Presume not that I am the thing I was,
For God doth know, so shall the world perceive,
That I have turn'd away my former self;
So will I those that kept me company.
Lyrics submitted by sllverview
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