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.
Don't believe the devil
I don't believe his book
But the truth is not the same
Without the lies he made up
Don't believe in excess
Success is to give
Don't believe in riches
But you should see where I live
I, I believe in love
Don't believe in forced entry
Don't believe in rape
But every time she passes by
Wild thoughts escape
I don't believe in death row
Skid row or the gangs
Don't believe in the Uzi
It just went off in my hand
I, I believe in love
Don't believe in cocaine
Got a speed-ball in my head
I could cut and crack you open
Do you hear what I said
Don't believe them when they tell me
There ain't no cure
The rich stay healthy
While the sick stay poor
I, I believe in love
Don't believe in Goldman
His type like a curse
Instant karma's going to get him
If I don't get him first
Don't believe that rock 'n' roll
Can really change the world
As it spins in revolution
It spirals and turns
I, I believe in love
Don't believe in the 60's
The golden age of pop
You glorify the past
When the future dries up
Heard a singer on the radio
late last night
He says he's gonna kick the darkness
'Til it bleeds daylight
I, I believe in love
Love
Love
Love
Love
I feel like I'm falling
Like I'm spinning on a wheel
It always stops beside of me
With a presence I can feel
I, I believe in love
Stop
I don't believe his book
But the truth is not the same
Without the lies he made up
Don't believe in excess
Success is to give
Don't believe in riches
But you should see where I live
I, I believe in love
Don't believe in forced entry
Don't believe in rape
But every time she passes by
Wild thoughts escape
I don't believe in death row
Skid row or the gangs
Don't believe in the Uzi
It just went off in my hand
I, I believe in love
Don't believe in cocaine
Got a speed-ball in my head
I could cut and crack you open
Do you hear what I said
Don't believe them when they tell me
There ain't no cure
The rich stay healthy
While the sick stay poor
I, I believe in love
Don't believe in Goldman
His type like a curse
Instant karma's going to get him
If I don't get him first
Don't believe that rock 'n' roll
Can really change the world
As it spins in revolution
It spirals and turns
I, I believe in love
Don't believe in the 60's
The golden age of pop
You glorify the past
When the future dries up
Heard a singer on the radio
late last night
He says he's gonna kick the darkness
'Til it bleeds daylight
I, I believe in love
Love
Love
Love
Love
I feel like I'm falling
Like I'm spinning on a wheel
It always stops beside of me
With a presence I can feel
I, I believe in love
Stop
Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira
God Part II Lyrics as written by Dave Evans Adam Clayton
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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The refernce to Goldman (while i dont fully know the details) is a counter atack. Goldman whote a scathing book about Lennon and Bono was getting back at him.
In hindsight do you think this song was a preview to the 'new U2' (after AB). The sound of this song would not be out of place on AB.
Uncle Chop Chop I have to wonder about the harsh words for Goldman from Bono. I really think a lot of Bono and I know a lot of the ugly of John Lennon not condoning John's actions but knowing that abuse is often an "inherited" thing. The kinds of abuse John had in his childhood combined with the tragedies that he endured as well I have to say I understand the bad side of John. I didn't even know who Goldman was in reference to until I began to read and recall the book. Okay lets consider that Bono may have thoguht the book was a bad idea but I cannot see the words of Bono here "Instant Karma's going to get him if I don't get him first" to be that Bono would actually get a kind of revenge because maybe I am way off here but Bono is just not of the typw to be revengeful he is to me a very well grounded spirit and he just would not see that revenge would be worth anything.That's just what I think of Bono and these particular lyrics.