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.
Am I a bad guy?
Am I a bad soul?
My eyes roll backward
My head fell forward
We want the vampires
They want the daylight
Undecided if we will feel it
All the lies and fantasies I picked to deny what is right
As the lawyers lie down to the sound of a broken man clinging
To the legs of a butterfly.
We live to see our children die,
Turn to the bright to describe what we never will find,
I'm a monster singing through the side of a left eye
And I will pay for, and I will pay for,
I couldn't have her,I couldn't save her,
If I could grab on, I'd pull the
All the lies and fantasies I picked to deny what is right
As the lawyers lie down to the sound of a broken man clinging
To the legs of a butterfly, of a butterfly
We live to see our children die,
Turn to the light to describe what we never will find,
I'm a vampire clinging to the sounds for a fast high.
All the lies and fantasies I picked to describe what is right
As the lawyers lie down to the sound of a broken man clinging
To the legs of a butterfly.
I live to see our children die,
Turn to the bright to describe what we never will find,
I'm a monster singing through the sigh of a left high.
Am I a bad soul?
My eyes roll backward
My head fell forward
We want the vampires
They want the daylight
Undecided if we will feel it
All the lies and fantasies I picked to deny what is right
As the lawyers lie down to the sound of a broken man clinging
To the legs of a butterfly.
We live to see our children die,
Turn to the bright to describe what we never will find,
I'm a monster singing through the side of a left eye
And I will pay for, and I will pay for,
I couldn't have her,I couldn't save her,
If I could grab on, I'd pull the
All the lies and fantasies I picked to deny what is right
As the lawyers lie down to the sound of a broken man clinging
To the legs of a butterfly, of a butterfly
We live to see our children die,
Turn to the light to describe what we never will find,
I'm a vampire clinging to the sounds for a fast high.
All the lies and fantasies I picked to describe what is right
As the lawyers lie down to the sound of a broken man clinging
To the legs of a butterfly.
I live to see our children die,
Turn to the bright to describe what we never will find,
I'm a monster singing through the sigh of a left high.
Lyrics submitted by fallen_crow05, edited by KeroseneFire
I'm a Monster Lyrics as written by Gnecco
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
i do think its about bullies and such, but i think hes tellin bout a friend he knows and how the end turned out tragic (i couldnt save her...
this song is about a child custody battle type thing
This fuckin band makes me cry yet it keeps make me wannnna hear it over and over again. I really wanna see them live so plz if any 1 have any news or anything related that band....plz email me ...thank you!!!
This song is NOT about a child custody battle. Its about a kid who'd being picked on and bullied, he decides to stand up for himself and fight back and feels worse for it, thus the "I'm a monster"
Good song.
yo fuzz .....i kinda agree wit ya....
Meh. I read anexplanation thingy by Jimmy Gnecco... but I mean, songs are really what we get out of it. Ours is possibly my favorite band ever. Scratch that. Is.
two kinds of music....good and bad music this good music.
i'm running out of things to say about this band...they have really powerful songs...i have heard there cd for awhile now...but i still can go back and listen to it and love it like the first time i heard them
it's heartbreaking and so, so lovely. <333