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.
I'm sorry about the sun.
How could I know?
That you'd get burned?
And I'm Sorry about the moon.
How could I know you'd disapprove?
I'll never make the same mistake.
The next time I create the universe
I'll make sure we communicate at length
Just to play it safe.
But until then,
Better off dead, a smile on the lips and a hole in the head
Better off dead, yeah better than this
Take it away cause there's nothing to miss
I'm sorry about the world
How could I know you'd take it so bad?
And I'll never make the same mistake
The next time I create the universe I'll make sure you participate.
But until then,
Better off dead, a smile on the lips and a hole in the head
Better off dead, yeah better than this
Take it away cause there's nothing to miss
Better off dead, yeah better off dead
Why don't you try pushing daisies instead
Better off dead, yeah better off dead,
A smile on the lips and a hole in the head
And I'll never make the same mistake
The next time I create the universe I'll make sure you participate
Oh yeah
And I'll never make the same mistake
The next time I create the universe I'll make sure we communicate
Just in case.
How could I know?
That you'd get burned?
And I'm Sorry about the moon.
How could I know you'd disapprove?
I'll never make the same mistake.
The next time I create the universe
I'll make sure we communicate at length
Just to play it safe.
But until then,
Better off dead, a smile on the lips and a hole in the head
Better off dead, yeah better than this
Take it away cause there's nothing to miss
I'm sorry about the world
How could I know you'd take it so bad?
And I'll never make the same mistake
The next time I create the universe I'll make sure you participate.
But until then,
Better off dead, a smile on the lips and a hole in the head
Better off dead, yeah better than this
Take it away cause there's nothing to miss
Better off dead, yeah better off dead
Why don't you try pushing daisies instead
Better off dead, yeah better off dead,
A smile on the lips and a hole in the head
And I'll never make the same mistake
The next time I create the universe I'll make sure you participate
Oh yeah
And I'll never make the same mistake
The next time I create the universe I'll make sure we communicate
Just in case.
Lyrics submitted by punk_in_drublic99, edited by oscrwht
Better Off Dead Lyrics as written by Brett W. Gurewitz
Lyrics © MOTHERSHIP MUSIC PUBLISHING, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I agree completely with Bulkyone. He's singing about people who expect the world was to be created and shaped just exactly to their specifications, and of course it wasn't, so all they do is complain. Funny thing is, if it were exactly how they wanted, they'd find some other garbage to complain about.