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.
I'd gladly lose me to find you
I'd gladly give up all I had
To find you I'd suffer anything and be glad
I'd pay any price just to get you
I'd work all my life and I will
To win you I'd stand naked, stoned, and stabbed
I'd call that a bargain
The best I ever had
The best I ever had
I'd gladly lose me to find you
I'd gladly give up all I got
To catch you I'm gonna run and never stop
I'd pay any price just to win you
Surrender my good life for bad
To find you I'm gonna drown an unsung man
I'd call that a bargain
The best I ever had
The best I ever had
I sit looking 'round
I look at my face in the mirror
I know I'm worth nothing without you
In life one and one don't make two
One and one make one
And I'm looking for that free ride to me
I'm looking for you
I'd gladly lose me to find you
I'd gladly give up all I got
To catch you I'm gonna run and never stop
I'd pay any price just to win you
Surrender my good life for bad
To find you I'm gonna drown an unsung man
I'd call that a bargain
The best I ever had
The best I ever ha
I'd gladly give up all I had
To find you I'd suffer anything and be glad
I'd pay any price just to get you
I'd work all my life and I will
To win you I'd stand naked, stoned, and stabbed
I'd call that a bargain
The best I ever had
The best I ever had
I'd gladly lose me to find you
I'd gladly give up all I got
To catch you I'm gonna run and never stop
I'd pay any price just to win you
Surrender my good life for bad
To find you I'm gonna drown an unsung man
I'd call that a bargain
The best I ever had
The best I ever had
I sit looking 'round
I look at my face in the mirror
I know I'm worth nothing without you
In life one and one don't make two
One and one make one
And I'm looking for that free ride to me
I'm looking for you
I'd gladly lose me to find you
I'd gladly give up all I got
To catch you I'm gonna run and never stop
I'd pay any price just to win you
Surrender my good life for bad
To find you I'm gonna drown an unsung man
I'd call that a bargain
The best I ever had
The best I ever ha
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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.
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Ed Sheeran
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Yeah flinchy17 and dukeface are exactly right, he's saying how the worst suffering possible on this earth isn't a good enough price to be with God. Having a full life of suffering and pain to be with God is a 'Bargain'
VERY, VERY powerful song, one of the best ever
@wildmonkeys77 you are exactly correct. It's a deeply spiritual song - and much more powerful than what passes for religious music these days. If Christian rock or pop songs were this nakedly honest, ...well, the singers would get tossed out of the church for being naked! lol
It's a love song to God. my dad is the ultimate WHO fan!! and he knows that this is about God. i looked it up to see what people would say its about.
the meaning of this song comes across loud and clear. its probably the most passionate love song ive ever heard. imagine someone saying to you "to win you, id stand naked, stoned, and stabbed... id call that a bargain". i mean, damn, thats good stuff. i just hope i dont associate this song with car commercials for the rest of my life...
This song is about Pete trying to find God. He's saying that all the suffering in the world to be with God in the end is the best bargain. It comes across as a love song though, and that's what many people think it's about. I can't think of many lon\ve songs Pete's written besides "Water" (he compares love to a liquid".
it is a love song, kind of. not a normal one. he isn't singing it to a woman, but to his spiritual leader. (Meher Baba?) basically saying that he would give up everything to reach enlightenment, or whatever it is that he was seeking. i don't really understand those eastern beliefs too well.
Who's the philosopher who talked about the God-shaped hole in man? I think it's about the hunger for the true higher being and the lengths he will go to find it and therefore find himself.
One and one make one And I'm looking for that free ride to me I'm looking for you
I think maybe drown an unsung man isn't him drowning anyone, but that he will drown in some figuative sense, and drown as an unsung man. Something about humility as a path to find what he's looking for.
Though it doesn't really mesh well with a death setting, I want this song to be played at my funeral (yes its pompous of me to think of myself as being a bargain, etc. buuuut...)
Oh yea, and its my second favourite song ever. Awesome.
Didn't Pete Townshend write this song about God? If he did, it's the best hymn I've heard in Years and streets ahead of Kendrick, New wine and Hillsong....
This song could stand alone as the reason Keith Moon is considered by many as the best drummer ever. Listen to the last minute of the song to see what I mean.
Killer song, too bad they sold it out for those gay car commercials.
The guitar, and drums as well in this song rock.
crying the first time I heard this was on a car ad :D
But I think Won't Get Fooled Again is an even better demonstration of Keith Moon. The drum solo at 7:30 is great. But the drum filler here is really great too.