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 see you couldn't catch your breath
Believe me, it's all that it must be
You see I never said my piece
If only you left it that easy
Fractured we have been since sometime sixteen
Failure was on me, 'cos your ideas bore me
Does it take the fireworks to make you look in wonder?
Would you give reaction to the cause I'm under?
So colored by you, but your monkey messed it up
So wounded by you, your monkey's long-while had enough
You're like scissors in my coat
You're like splinters in my cup
I know you couldn't care any less
Keep hoping, it's all only token
You know I never had my say
If only you'd keep it that open
Loser I have been, but it's lost on me
Splintered I will be when your peace breaks cheap
Does it take the fireworks to make you look in wonder?
Would you give reaction to the cause I'm under?
Three color blind you, but your monkey messed it up
Surrendered by you, your monkey's long-while had enough
You're like scissors in my coat
You're like splinters in my cup
Believe me, it's all that it must be
You see I never said my piece
If only you left it that easy
Fractured we have been since sometime sixteen
Failure was on me, 'cos your ideas bore me
Does it take the fireworks to make you look in wonder?
Would you give reaction to the cause I'm under?
So colored by you, but your monkey messed it up
So wounded by you, your monkey's long-while had enough
You're like scissors in my coat
You're like splinters in my cup
I know you couldn't care any less
Keep hoping, it's all only token
You know I never had my say
If only you'd keep it that open
Loser I have been, but it's lost on me
Splintered I will be when your peace breaks cheap
Does it take the fireworks to make you look in wonder?
Would you give reaction to the cause I'm under?
Three color blind you, but your monkey messed it up
Surrendered by you, your monkey's long-while had enough
You're like scissors in my coat
You're like splinters in my cup
Lyrics submitted by Ice, edited by random_monkey
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Amazing.
I love how downbeat this sounds. I think it's about a crappy relationship. It's being going wrong for quite some time "Fractured sometime sixteen", and it's only when it's blown up and they're arguing that he thinks they get anything out of it "Does it take the fireworks to make you look in wonder?". There's also a level of spite involved in this with the second verse cracking open with the accusation that the other person couldn't "care any less" (it's not me) and although he keeps hoping he knows "it's all only token".
The whole album was quite ignored and yet it's far superior to their first album.