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.
You got to read between the lines, lines
You got to read between the lines, lines, lines
You got to read between the lines, lines
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Late afternoon, the sun's going down
I call on your cell (why's he in such a hurry?)
Leaving the room, he's mumbling too
Now, now lookin' for his shoes (he's leavin' out the room, room)
No explanation, no actual location
Just watching him pacing (wonder who he's stressing, stressing?)
Little conversation, leavin' no debation
He left the door swingin'
You better open your mind
To read between the lines
You got to read between the lines, lines
You got to read between the lines
You got to read between the lines
Nine in the morning, up, up, up way before breakfast
Homeboy gettin' restless
(The room is full of questions)
Little replyin', whole lot of denyin'
You're steady collidin'
(So why do he keep on trying, trying?)
I search for the median, now he's a comedian
That's all the more reason
(He's changing like the seasons, seasons)
Are you still pleasing?
Well, soon you'll be leaving
Which one will be grieving?
You better open your mind
To read between the lines, lines
You got to read between the lines ('tween the lines)
You got to read between the lines, lines
You got to read between the lines
Your replies are getting old
It's in his eyes (in his eyes)
Got to read between the lines
Lies are gettin' told
Look in his eyes (look in his eyes)
You got to read between the lines
Your replies are getting old
It's in his eyes (in his eyes)
Got to read between the lines
Lies are gettin' told
Look in his eyes (look in his eyes)
You got to read between the lines (yeah, yeah)
Hope you don't think you pullin' one over me
'Cause I, I know what's going on
I hope you ain't been planning on running me
'Cause that, that ain't what I'm on, on
Hope you don't think you pullin' one over me
'Cause you'll look up, and I'll be gone
Hope you ain't making plans on running me
'Cause I read between the lines
Who got you thinkin' you ish ain't been stinkin'?
My temperature's peakin'
(Why is you barely speakin'?)
I'm bustin' his bubble, and he know he in trouble
He's talkin' in doubles
(I'm listening but hardly believing, believing)
Changing the story, or trying to ignore me
Still reaching out for me
(But, still, I'm hardly reaching, reaching)
Give me a reason to put you back on line
You've wasted enough time
I had to open my mind
Got to read between the lines, lines (yeah)
You got to read between the lines ('tween the lines)
You got to read between the lines, lines (oh yeah)
You got to read between the lines ('tween the lines, yeah)
You got to read between the lines, lines
You got to read between the lines
You got to read between the lines
Your replies are getting old
It's in his eyes (in his eyes)
Got to read between the lines
Lies are gettin' told
Look in his eyes (look in his eyes)
You got to read between the lines ('tween the lines)
Your replies are getting old
It's in his eyes (in his eyes)
Got to read between the lines
Lies are gettin' told
Look in his eyes (look in his eyes)
You got to read between the lines
Your replies are getting old
It's in his eyes (in his eyes)
Gotta read between the lines ('tween the lines)
Lies are gettin' told
Look in his eyes (look in his eyes)
You got to read between the lines
Your replies are getting old (getting old)
It's in his eyes (in his eyes)
Gotta read between the lines (yeah)
Lies are gettin' told
Look in his eyes (look in his eyes)
You got to read between the lines
You got to read between the lines, lines, lines
You got to read between the lines, lines
Ah, ah, ah, ah
Late afternoon, the sun's going down
I call on your cell (why's he in such a hurry?)
Leaving the room, he's mumbling too
Now, now lookin' for his shoes (he's leavin' out the room, room)
No explanation, no actual location
Just watching him pacing (wonder who he's stressing, stressing?)
Little conversation, leavin' no debation
He left the door swingin'
You better open your mind
To read between the lines
You got to read between the lines, lines
You got to read between the lines
You got to read between the lines
Nine in the morning, up, up, up way before breakfast
Homeboy gettin' restless
(The room is full of questions)
Little replyin', whole lot of denyin'
You're steady collidin'
(So why do he keep on trying, trying?)
I search for the median, now he's a comedian
That's all the more reason
(He's changing like the seasons, seasons)
Are you still pleasing?
Well, soon you'll be leaving
Which one will be grieving?
You better open your mind
To read between the lines, lines
You got to read between the lines ('tween the lines)
You got to read between the lines, lines
You got to read between the lines
Your replies are getting old
It's in his eyes (in his eyes)
Got to read between the lines
Lies are gettin' told
Look in his eyes (look in his eyes)
You got to read between the lines
Your replies are getting old
It's in his eyes (in his eyes)
Got to read between the lines
Lies are gettin' told
Look in his eyes (look in his eyes)
You got to read between the lines (yeah, yeah)
Hope you don't think you pullin' one over me
'Cause I, I know what's going on
I hope you ain't been planning on running me
'Cause that, that ain't what I'm on, on
Hope you don't think you pullin' one over me
'Cause you'll look up, and I'll be gone
Hope you ain't making plans on running me
'Cause I read between the lines
Who got you thinkin' you ish ain't been stinkin'?
My temperature's peakin'
(Why is you barely speakin'?)
I'm bustin' his bubble, and he know he in trouble
He's talkin' in doubles
(I'm listening but hardly believing, believing)
Changing the story, or trying to ignore me
Still reaching out for me
(But, still, I'm hardly reaching, reaching)
Give me a reason to put you back on line
You've wasted enough time
I had to open my mind
Got to read between the lines, lines (yeah)
You got to read between the lines ('tween the lines)
You got to read between the lines, lines (oh yeah)
You got to read between the lines ('tween the lines, yeah)
You got to read between the lines, lines
You got to read between the lines
You got to read between the lines
Your replies are getting old
It's in his eyes (in his eyes)
Got to read between the lines
Lies are gettin' told
Look in his eyes (look in his eyes)
You got to read between the lines ('tween the lines)
Your replies are getting old
It's in his eyes (in his eyes)
Got to read between the lines
Lies are gettin' told
Look in his eyes (look in his eyes)
You got to read between the lines
Your replies are getting old
It's in his eyes (in his eyes)
Gotta read between the lines ('tween the lines)
Lies are gettin' told
Look in his eyes (look in his eyes)
You got to read between the lines
Your replies are getting old (getting old)
It's in his eyes (in his eyes)
Gotta read between the lines (yeah)
Lies are gettin' told
Look in his eyes (look in his eyes)
You got to read between the lines
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
This song is pretty self explanitory... she's realizing that her boyfriend is cheating on her.
Use context clues, see the implicit hints that he's cheating.