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.
What do you think of me
Do you really want to see a piece of me that I hide
Something that's hard to find
What's behind your smile
Is it really worth my while
What's beneath your ton-bed skin open up and let me in
Do you really want to feel something that is so unreal
Do you really want to be the one and only one for me
When we go to sleep tonight
I'll have different goals in sight
Tell you what you want to hear
Have another drink my dear
I'm not going to try to hurt you
I'll be honest kind and true
I'll take you out and treat you right
Like a decent man would do
Now I got you in my grasp do not fear my checkered past
Have you now begun to see this diabolic side of me
In your mind I'm always there I guess
You thought I really cared now it's time to say goodbye
You bit the hook
Believed the lie
I'm not going to try to hurt you I'll be honest kind and true
I'll take you out and treat you right like a decent man would do
Gonna modify my behavior to make you think I'm your savior
Now that I'm inside your head
I'm gonna use you
Probably abuse you
Should have listened to what your mom said
I'm not going to try to hurt you
I'll be honest kind and true
I'll take you out and treat you right
Like a decent man would do
Yeah right!
Do you really want to see a piece of me that I hide
Something that's hard to find
What's behind your smile
Is it really worth my while
What's beneath your ton-bed skin open up and let me in
Do you really want to feel something that is so unreal
Do you really want to be the one and only one for me
When we go to sleep tonight
I'll have different goals in sight
Tell you what you want to hear
Have another drink my dear
I'm not going to try to hurt you
I'll be honest kind and true
I'll take you out and treat you right
Like a decent man would do
Now I got you in my grasp do not fear my checkered past
Have you now begun to see this diabolic side of me
In your mind I'm always there I guess
You thought I really cared now it's time to say goodbye
You bit the hook
Believed the lie
I'm not going to try to hurt you I'll be honest kind and true
I'll take you out and treat you right like a decent man would do
Gonna modify my behavior to make you think I'm your savior
Now that I'm inside your head
I'm gonna use you
Probably abuse you
Should have listened to what your mom said
I'm not going to try to hurt you
I'll be honest kind and true
I'll take you out and treat you right
Like a decent man would do
Yeah right!
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death
The Gentleman Lyrics as written by Tom Douglas Sandra Lawrence
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Peermusic Publishing
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.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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heheh...this song is so brutally honest about what goes through guys' heads