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.
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la
The man in me will do nearly any task
And as for compensation, there's little he would ask
Take a woman like you
To get through to the man in me
Storm clouds are raging all around my door
I think to myself I might not take it any more
Take a woman like your kind
To find the man in me
But, oh, what a wonderful feeling
Just to know that you are near
Sets my a heart a-reeling
From my toes up to my ears
The man in me will hide sometimes to keep from bein' seen
But that's just because he doesn't want turn into some machine
Took a woman like you
To get through to the man in me
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la
La la la la
The man in me will do nearly any task
And as for compensation, there's little he would ask
Take a woman like you
To get through to the man in me
Storm clouds are raging all around my door
I think to myself I might not take it any more
Take a woman like your kind
To find the man in me
But, oh, what a wonderful feeling
Just to know that you are near
Sets my a heart a-reeling
From my toes up to my ears
The man in me will hide sometimes to keep from bein' seen
But that's just because he doesn't want turn into some machine
Took a woman like you
To get through to the man in me
La la la la
La la la la
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
shut the f*ck up donnie!
Any man who has ever been truely in love with a woman (especially if he in some way feels as though he is not worthy of her love) will know what this is about.
Its also very honest "and as for compensation, there's a little he would ask" - but he does want some compensation - and I think that compensation is clearly sex. This isn't one of those wishy washy I'll love you forever and I want nothing in return boy band drivel songs this is about what men really think.
Whenever I need to find a way to say "I'm sorry." or "I love you." I can always turn to Dylan. This song seems to express how I feel at certain time without being trite, redundant, or too complex. At 3:10 it sure does fit quite a lot of feelings and emotion in to a small amount of time.
Fantastic song. And a fantastic cover by The Clash.
Bob Dylan is the greatest artist of all time
And The Clash are the greatest band of all time.
They both had so much to say. 'The only music that really matters.'
This song makes me amazed that we humans can produce such beauty.
I listened to this song a lot, and always thought it's a really sweet love song.
However, I just sang it in the bathtub and thought about the last verse:
The man in me will hide sometimes to keep from bein' seen But that's just because he doesn't want to turn into some machine
What does that mean? Why would he be hiding, afraid of turning to a machine?
So here's what I think:
This is about a man feeling used by his woman - Slaving at his job to bring home the money, fixing things around the house, managing the assets...You know doing "the man's role". And that's how his wife sees him. Not as a lover or a friend, but as a tool that does whatever's needed to take care of her. He knows this and completely accepts this, just to have the wonderful feeling of having her near him. Even if he's just her "instrument". It takes a woman like "her kind" to find the "man" in him
this song is absolutely amazing, im pretty sure ive said it before but dylan is a genius
it takes someone else to bring out the best in oneself, sometimes. fabulous song.
i was elated to hear the clash's cover of it on the deluxe reissue of london calling.
Used in The Big Lebowski... one of my favorites.
great song
david bazan recently did a fantastic cover of this song as well, you can check it out on youtube or davidbazan.com