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.
To get up and walk away would be too easy
So stay and stand your ground, just watch your mouth with me
On the back of every right, there's a wrong looming
So here you and I should tread as soft as these razor blades
For boots will let be
Have you ever tried to step in my shoes?
Have you ever tried to balance that beam?
And if you ever tried to fit in my shoes
They'll never be quite as soft as they seemed
(Thought) Unabashed honesty would be ideal
But a prophet did once say that honesty is a lonely word
So where do we go from here, abandon ship now?
My problem is you made me melt
And I don't want to be frozen anymore
Have you ever tried to step in my shoes?
Have you ever tried to balance that beam?
And if you ever tried to fit in my shoes
They'll never be quite as soft as they seemed
Oh, oh, ooh
Have you ever, have you ever tried to?
I have never, I have never tried to
Have you ever tried to step in my shoes?
Have you ever tried to balance that beam?
And if you ever tried to fit in my shoes
They'll never be quite as soft as they seemed
Whoa, yeah, oh now, ha, ha, woo
So stay and stand your ground, just watch your mouth with me
On the back of every right, there's a wrong looming
So here you and I should tread as soft as these razor blades
For boots will let be
Have you ever tried to step in my shoes?
Have you ever tried to balance that beam?
And if you ever tried to fit in my shoes
They'll never be quite as soft as they seemed
(Thought) Unabashed honesty would be ideal
But a prophet did once say that honesty is a lonely word
So where do we go from here, abandon ship now?
My problem is you made me melt
And I don't want to be frozen anymore
Have you ever tried to step in my shoes?
Have you ever tried to balance that beam?
And if you ever tried to fit in my shoes
They'll never be quite as soft as they seemed
Oh, oh, ooh
Have you ever, have you ever tried to?
I have never, I have never tried to
Have you ever tried to step in my shoes?
Have you ever tried to balance that beam?
And if you ever tried to fit in my shoes
They'll never be quite as soft as they seemed
Whoa, yeah, oh now, ha, ha, woo
Lyrics submitted by Mopnugget, edited by RobinMarlo, iFX
Have You Ever Lyrics as written by Brandon Charles Boyd Alex Katunich
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
This is about the feeling when people put you down, but they don't know how hard it is to be somebody else.