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.
Divide your cultured pearls in haste
I'm looking for to lay to waste
Of all the things I cannot taste
And this is not the racy race, they spoke loud
(I believe in what you do)
(I believe in watching you)
(I believe in what you do) it's what you do
(I believe in watching you)
I could turn you inside-out
What I choose not to do
I could turn you inside-out
What I choose not to do
Given the choice
Given the heart
Given the tool
Given the word
Given the cheers
(I believe in what you do)
(I believe in watching you)
(I believe in what you do) it's what you do
(I believe in watching you)
(I believe in what you do)
(I believe in watching you) I, I, I, I, I
I could turn you inside-out
What I choose not to do
I could turn you inside-out
What I choose not to do
I believe in what you do
I believe in watching you
I believe in what you do (given the choice)
I believe in watching you (given the heart)
I believe in what you do (given the tool)
I believe in watching you (given the word)
I believe in what you do (given the cheers)
I believe in watching you
I could, I
I could turn you inside-out
What I choose not to do
I could turn you inside-out
What I choose not to do
Given the choice
Given the heart
Given the tool
Given the word
Given the cheers
Given the cheers
Given the choice
Given the choice
Given the choice
I'm looking for to lay to waste
Of all the things I cannot taste
And this is not the racy race, they spoke loud
(I believe in what you do)
(I believe in watching you)
(I believe in what you do) it's what you do
(I believe in watching you)
I could turn you inside-out
What I choose not to do
I could turn you inside-out
What I choose not to do
Given the choice
Given the heart
Given the tool
Given the word
Given the cheers
(I believe in what you do)
(I believe in watching you)
(I believe in what you do) it's what you do
(I believe in watching you)
(I believe in what you do)
(I believe in watching you) I, I, I, I, I
I could turn you inside-out
What I choose not to do
I could turn you inside-out
What I choose not to do
I believe in what you do
I believe in watching you
I believe in what you do (given the choice)
I believe in watching you (given the heart)
I believe in what you do (given the tool)
I believe in watching you (given the word)
I believe in what you do (given the cheers)
I believe in watching you
I could, I
I could turn you inside-out
What I choose not to do
I could turn you inside-out
What I choose not to do
Given the choice
Given the heart
Given the tool
Given the word
Given the cheers
Given the cheers
Given the choice
Given the choice
Given the choice
Lyrics submitted by jhines0042
Turn You Inside-Out Lyrics as written by Peter Buck Bill Berry
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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I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
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This certainly sounds like a rock star talking about groupies. "Divide your cultured pearls and paste....." he's saying, very contemptuously, he can look through all the glamour and makeup (paste), basically, the image, these girls are presenting and "lay waste" the only part of someone you "can not taste" (soul). Or, in other words, turn them inside out...but he chooses "not to do" that. He's also saying, "don't come to the show looking to have sex with me," the "racy race" part, that is. The "Given the..." part is him thinking about how being in that position affects his conscience (which is probably why he dedicated the song to Exxon at one show because of their negligence concerning the Valdez disaster. In other words, "this is what it's like to have a conscience." The backing vocals are what the groupies are saying, "I believe in what you do. I believe in watching you."
The groupies saying, "I believe, " like the rock star is a god.