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.
You are sultry, dirty, soft and hard
You are close to me and you're so far
And I'm thinking of the time we spent together
Now I'll bury this in my backyard
Sometimes I sit and wonder
But I'll never dial your number
Cause I'm having fun looking out for number one
And I'm doing all the things I like to do
I'm having fun cause I knew it all along
I'd be better off without you
You are guilty, pretty, high and low
You're a place to stay and a time to go
And I'm searching through the things you left behind here
Now it's time for me to let it go
Sometimes I sit and wonder
But I'll never dial that number
Cause I'm having fun looking out for number one
And I'm doin' all the things I like to do
I'm having fun 'cause I knew it all along
I'd be better off without you
Late at night you pick up the telephone
Call me up and cry 'cause you're all alone
I don't care
Apologize for taking my cigarettes
Now it's time to feel all the side effects
Missing the life you had
You are close to me and you're so far
And I'm thinking of the time we spent together
Now I'll bury this in my backyard
Sometimes I sit and wonder
But I'll never dial your number
Cause I'm having fun looking out for number one
And I'm doing all the things I like to do
I'm having fun cause I knew it all along
I'd be better off without you
You are guilty, pretty, high and low
You're a place to stay and a time to go
And I'm searching through the things you left behind here
Now it's time for me to let it go
Sometimes I sit and wonder
But I'll never dial that number
Cause I'm having fun looking out for number one
And I'm doin' all the things I like to do
I'm having fun 'cause I knew it all along
I'd be better off without you
Late at night you pick up the telephone
Call me up and cry 'cause you're all alone
I don't care
Apologize for taking my cigarettes
Now it's time to feel all the side effects
Missing the life you had
Lyrics submitted by Traumattizing
Better off Without You [Bonus Track; Bonus Track] Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © TUNECORE INC, TuneCore Inc.
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