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.
Well sometimes
It seems you just don't understand
The way I think and who I am
And when I'm
I'm told what I'm supposed to be
You think you know what's best for me
Well I want to see you standing next to me now
Seems you've got nothing much to say
And when you're dying lying next to me now
I'll turn my head and walk away
Sometimes
It seems I might be losing touch
Or maybe I just try to much
Now I
Now I get told I'm crazy
Nothing you could say would phase me now
I want to see you standing next to me now
Seems you've got nothing much to say
And when you're dying lying next to me now
I'll turn my head and walk away
Hey
I walk alone
My thought's aren't always carved in stone
My life revolves according to me
And what you think don't mean a fucking thing to me
Yeah you'll see
I'll make it farther on my own
Well I want to see you standing next to me now
Seems you've got nothing much to say
And when you're dying lying next to me now
I'll turn my head and walk away
I want to see you standing next to me now
Seems you've got nothing much to say
And when you're dying lying next to me now
I'll turn my head and walk away
It seems you just don't understand
The way I think and who I am
And when I'm
I'm told what I'm supposed to be
You think you know what's best for me
Well I want to see you standing next to me now
Seems you've got nothing much to say
And when you're dying lying next to me now
I'll turn my head and walk away
Sometimes
It seems I might be losing touch
Or maybe I just try to much
Now I
Now I get told I'm crazy
Nothing you could say would phase me now
I want to see you standing next to me now
Seems you've got nothing much to say
And when you're dying lying next to me now
I'll turn my head and walk away
Hey
I walk alone
My thought's aren't always carved in stone
My life revolves according to me
And what you think don't mean a fucking thing to me
Yeah you'll see
I'll make it farther on my own
Well I want to see you standing next to me now
Seems you've got nothing much to say
And when you're dying lying next to me now
I'll turn my head and walk away
I want to see you standing next to me now
Seems you've got nothing much to say
And when you're dying lying next to me now
I'll turn my head and walk away
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death
Shallow Lyrics as written by Robert Brewer John P. Bell
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
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Great version of a great song,
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This song hits so close to home for me. My ex boyfriend won't let me forget him. He keeps coming back into my life just when i start to get over him again. I would really like to turn the tables on him.
I want to see you standing next to me Seems you got nothing much to say And when you're dying lying next to me I'll turn my head and walk away
That line is the most important to me. For once i would like to be the one who doesn't care
Shallow... Definitly lives up to it's title and definitly one of their best songs.
I agree. Ex-boyfriends always make it hard to forget them. Whether its our fault or theirs, it would be nice to sit them down and play this song!!
"I walk alone My thoughts aren't always carved in stone My life revolves according to me, And what you say don't mean a fucking thing to me Yeah, you'll see I'll make it further on my own"
this line says it all. it's saying fuck the world, do what you want
it's about being fed up with a relationship. for once you wanna tell the person that you are done with him/her and don't care anymore. great song!
The acoustic version of this song rocks too.
I think it's really sweet! they have reissued this song on the Hit List