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.
Sometimes I have trouble
Falling asleep.
But it's not so bad.
- Dude, I'm trying to sleep.
I don't worry
And I don't weep.
- Ooooooh.
In fact I'm glad....
Be-cause I get up off my pillow
And I flip on the li-ight.
- GLOOOW!
I get down and get hip
In the still of the night.
- Turn off the light, ahole.
I stretch and I yawn and then I breathe real deep,
- Ooooooh...
And dance myself to sleep!
- Don't dance, dammit please don't dance...
I hoof around my beddie
Just a-tappin my toes.
- He's dancing...
Before I know what's happened
I'm a-ready to doze.
- o bakula
Got some partners I can count on called the Boogie Woogie Sheep
- What?!?
I dance myself to sleep!
I gently rock-a-bye myself across the floor.
- What are those sheep doing?
I turn and then I toss and then I start to snore.
- I the G!
My trusty little bassist helps me spread the news
- Oh, not the bassist.
That I'm tappin' to "Taps"
And I'm a-rarin' to snooze!
(Smokin' bridge routine)
Well, I'm gettin' kinda drowsy
So the moment has come
- YOU'RE drowsy?
To grab my rubber duckie
While the sheep take my chum
- Take your chum!?!
Time to shuffle off to dreamland
Got a date to keep.
- Where're you taking me?
We'll dance ourselves to sleep, oh yeah --
- Wh-wait, what's going on?!?
We'll dance ourselves to sleep,
Wearin' our jammies.
- What are these sheep...what are they doing? Get away!
We'll dance ourselves to sleep,
And thank you, lambies.
- They're taking me outside!
We'll dance ourselves to sleep!
-MUCKAFERGSOOOOON!
(final guitar riff)
Falling asleep.
But it's not so bad.
- Dude, I'm trying to sleep.
I don't worry
And I don't weep.
- Ooooooh.
In fact I'm glad....
Be-cause I get up off my pillow
And I flip on the li-ight.
- GLOOOW!
I get down and get hip
In the still of the night.
- Turn off the light, ahole.
I stretch and I yawn and then I breathe real deep,
- Ooooooh...
And dance myself to sleep!
- Don't dance, dammit please don't dance...
I hoof around my beddie
Just a-tappin my toes.
- He's dancing...
Before I know what's happened
I'm a-ready to doze.
- o bakula
Got some partners I can count on called the Boogie Woogie Sheep
- What?!?
I dance myself to sleep!
I gently rock-a-bye myself across the floor.
- What are those sheep doing?
I turn and then I toss and then I start to snore.
- I the G!
My trusty little bassist helps me spread the news
- Oh, not the bassist.
That I'm tappin' to "Taps"
And I'm a-rarin' to snooze!
(Smokin' bridge routine)
Well, I'm gettin' kinda drowsy
So the moment has come
- YOU'RE drowsy?
To grab my rubber duckie
While the sheep take my chum
- Take your chum!?!
Time to shuffle off to dreamland
Got a date to keep.
- Where're you taking me?
We'll dance ourselves to sleep, oh yeah --
- Wh-wait, what's going on?!?
We'll dance ourselves to sleep,
Wearin' our jammies.
- What are these sheep...what are they doing? Get away!
We'll dance ourselves to sleep,
And thank you, lambies.
- They're taking me outside!
We'll dance ourselves to sleep!
-MUCKAFERGSOOOOON!
(final guitar riff)
Lyrics submitted by Skweeky_voiced_teen
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
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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.