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.
Aw
You come on strong with a great big smile
But your teeth are as sharp as a crocodile
You promised me the moon and the stars and the sun
But you never did nothin' for anyone
Can't look me in the face or straight in the eye
I'd buy the movie rights to your alibi
I wonder how low you will go
I wonder how high your head will blow
You're a psychopathic liar
Your soul is on fire
You're bluffin' with nothin' while the stakes are gettin' higher
Why trust you
You never made a dream come true
Why trust you
Give me one good reason, one good reason why
Well, you come to me all teary-eyed
With your big tall tale way up in the sky
Begging on your knees for another chance
But everybody knows that's a song and a dance
Yeah, there used to be a time when you were the best
You had the fastest tongue in the west
Ya gave a look and a line like nobody else
You'd try to sell the Bible to the Devil himself
You sadistic little liar
You're walkin' on the wire
You're bluffin' up with nothin'
And the bills are gettin' higher
Why trust you
You never made a dream come true
Why trust you
Give me one good reason, one good reason
Why trust you
The noose is getting tighter
Your face is turning whiter
You can stuff it up your muffin and go stick it in the fire
(Why trust you)
Why trust you
(You never made a dream come true )
You never never never made a dream come true
(Why trust you, give me one good reason, one good reason)
You stinkin' little liar baby you should tell, your pants on fire
(Why trust you, you never made a dream come true )
Why trust you, you better spit out what you mean
(Why trust you, give me one good reason, one good reason )
Come clean, you're acting like an addict with a holy holy automatic
Why trust you (Why trust you)
I'm through (Why trust you)
I'm gone (Why trust you)
Into the next song (Why trust you)
Why trust you?
You come on strong with a great big smile
But your teeth are as sharp as a crocodile
You promised me the moon and the stars and the sun
But you never did nothin' for anyone
Can't look me in the face or straight in the eye
I'd buy the movie rights to your alibi
I wonder how low you will go
I wonder how high your head will blow
You're a psychopathic liar
Your soul is on fire
You're bluffin' with nothin' while the stakes are gettin' higher
Why trust you
You never made a dream come true
Why trust you
Give me one good reason, one good reason why
Well, you come to me all teary-eyed
With your big tall tale way up in the sky
Begging on your knees for another chance
But everybody knows that's a song and a dance
Yeah, there used to be a time when you were the best
You had the fastest tongue in the west
Ya gave a look and a line like nobody else
You'd try to sell the Bible to the Devil himself
You sadistic little liar
You're walkin' on the wire
You're bluffin' up with nothin'
And the bills are gettin' higher
Why trust you
You never made a dream come true
Why trust you
Give me one good reason, one good reason
Why trust you
The noose is getting tighter
Your face is turning whiter
You can stuff it up your muffin and go stick it in the fire
(Why trust you)
Why trust you
(You never made a dream come true )
You never never never made a dream come true
(Why trust you, give me one good reason, one good reason)
You stinkin' little liar baby you should tell, your pants on fire
(Why trust you, you never made a dream come true )
Why trust you, you better spit out what you mean
(Why trust you, give me one good reason, one good reason )
Come clean, you're acting like an addict with a holy holy automatic
Why trust you (Why trust you)
I'm through (Why trust you)
I'm gone (Why trust you)
Into the next song (Why trust you)
Why trust you?
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