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.
Yeah
Get back get back
Back chat back chat
You burn all my energy
Back chat back chat
Criticizing all you see
Back chat, back chat
Analyzing what I say
Back chat, back chat
And you always get your way
Oh yeah! See what you've done to me
Back chat, back chat
It's driving me insane
Survival to the end
Knock you down, you come again
Talk back, talk back
You've got me on the wrack
Twisting ev'ry word I say
Wind me up and get your way
Fat chance I have of making a romance
If I'm ever goin' to win
Have to get the last word in
Take it from there
Twisting ev'ry word I say, Huh!
Wind me up and let me play
Back chat, back chat
You burn all my energy
Back chat, back chat
Criticizing all you see
Back chat, back chat
Analyzing what I say
Back chat, back chat
And you always get your way
Come on now
Wake up, stand up
And drag yourself on out
Get down, get ready
Scream and shout
Back off me, be cool
And learn to change your ways
'Cause you're talking in your sleep
And you're walking in a daze
Don't push your luck
I'm ready to attack
'Cause when I'm trying to talk to you
All you do is just talk back
You stand so tall you don't frighten me at all
Don't talk back, don't talk back
Don't talk back just leave me alone
Back chat, back chat
You burn all my energy
Back chat, back chat
Criticizing all you see
Back chat, back chat
Analyzing what I say
Back chat, back chat
And you always get your way
Yes you do
Yes you do baby
Come on back chat, back chat
Back chat, back chat
Back chat, back chat
Go for it, go for it, go for it baby
Back chat, back chat
You're giving me the runaround
Criticizing (oh yeah), analyzing (oh yeah)
Yeah merci beaucoup
Get on down
Get back get back
Back chat back chat
You burn all my energy
Back chat back chat
Criticizing all you see
Back chat, back chat
Analyzing what I say
Back chat, back chat
And you always get your way
Oh yeah! See what you've done to me
Back chat, back chat
It's driving me insane
Survival to the end
Knock you down, you come again
Talk back, talk back
You've got me on the wrack
Twisting ev'ry word I say
Wind me up and get your way
Fat chance I have of making a romance
If I'm ever goin' to win
Have to get the last word in
Take it from there
Twisting ev'ry word I say, Huh!
Wind me up and let me play
Back chat, back chat
You burn all my energy
Back chat, back chat
Criticizing all you see
Back chat, back chat
Analyzing what I say
Back chat, back chat
And you always get your way
Come on now
Wake up, stand up
And drag yourself on out
Get down, get ready
Scream and shout
Back off me, be cool
And learn to change your ways
'Cause you're talking in your sleep
And you're walking in a daze
Don't push your luck
I'm ready to attack
'Cause when I'm trying to talk to you
All you do is just talk back
You stand so tall you don't frighten me at all
Don't talk back, don't talk back
Don't talk back just leave me alone
Back chat, back chat
You burn all my energy
Back chat, back chat
Criticizing all you see
Back chat, back chat
Analyzing what I say
Back chat, back chat
And you always get your way
Yes you do
Yes you do baby
Come on back chat, back chat
Back chat, back chat
Back chat, back chat
Go for it, go for it, go for it baby
Back chat, back chat
You're giving me the runaround
Criticizing (oh yeah), analyzing (oh yeah)
Yeah merci beaucoup
Get on down
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I don’t know where these interpretations are coming for as I thought it was common knowledge amongst Queen fans that it’s very much about one of the band members, presumably Brian. It’s off of Hot Space which was the album John’s influence touched the most and Brian and Roger were both reluctant about it and argued a lot. A level of tension grew, and it’s palpable in interviews, particularly between John and Brian. They did an entire press conference sat next to each other and Brian didn’t look at John even once during the whole thing, even when John spoke. Reading their statements about the era and watching the interviews you can see that Brian was angry during the time, and John was incredibly smug, as one might be after one of your best friends demands to have a guitar solo on a track that you wrote to retaliate against him.
Additionally, John wrote AND PLAYED most of the guitar in the song, which isn’t true for pretty much any of the other songs they’ve done. Brian only played the solo.