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.
This time around I'll never get bit
Though you really wanna fix me
This time around you're making me sick
Though you really wanna get me
Somebody's out
Somebody's out to get me
They really wanna fix me, hit me
But this time around I'm taking no shit
Though you really wanna get me
You really wanna get me
He really thought he really had a hold on me
He really thought
(They thought they really had control of me) he really had
He really thought, he really had a hold on me
He really thought
(They thought they really could control me) he really had
This time around I won't be gettin' bit
Though you really wanna get me
(You really wanna get me)
But this time around I'm taking no shit
Though you really wanna fix me
(You really wanna fix me)
Somebody's out
Somebody's out to use me
They really want to use me
And then falsely accuse me (accuse me)
This time around
They'll take it like spit
No, you really can't control me
You really can't control me
He really thought he really had a hold on me
He really thought
(They thought they really had control of me) he really had
He really thought he really had a hold on me
He really thought
(They thought they really had control of me) he really had
He really thought he really had control of me
He really thought
(They thought they really had control of me) he really had
He really thought he really had a hold on me
He really thought
(They thought they really had control of me) he really had
Listen, I've got problems of my own
Flashin' cameras, taps on my phone
Even in my home I ain't safe as I should be
Things always missin'
Maybe it could be my friends
They ain't friends if they robbin' me
Stoppin' me from makin' a profit, see
Apology shallow like the ocean
I guess I'll resort to gun totin'
If I was dead broke and smokin'
I'd probably be by my lonesome
I'm a killer nigga, I ain't jokin'
Indo smoke got me choked and I'm hopin'
The fool comes slippin'
So I could blow 'em open
This time around
I changed up my flow
Got rid of the rocks
Got Pitts by the door
A real set of peoples to watch my back
Stay away from strangers
So I won't slack
And I know my nigga Mike like that (this time around, yeah)
Baby
He really thought he really had a control of me
He really thought
(They thought they really had control of me) he really had
He really thought he really had a hold on me
He really thought
(They thought they really had control of me) he really had
He really thought he really had control of me
He really thought he really had (control of me)
He really thought he really had a hold on me
He really thought he really had a hold on me
He really
He really got control of me
He really thought (he really got control of me)
He really thought he really had a hold on me
This time around, yeah
He really thought
Though you really wanna fix me
This time around you're making me sick
Though you really wanna get me
Somebody's out
Somebody's out to get me
They really wanna fix me, hit me
But this time around I'm taking no shit
Though you really wanna get me
You really wanna get me
He really thought he really had a hold on me
He really thought
(They thought they really had control of me) he really had
He really thought, he really had a hold on me
He really thought
(They thought they really could control me) he really had
This time around I won't be gettin' bit
Though you really wanna get me
(You really wanna get me)
But this time around I'm taking no shit
Though you really wanna fix me
(You really wanna fix me)
Somebody's out
Somebody's out to use me
They really want to use me
And then falsely accuse me (accuse me)
This time around
They'll take it like spit
No, you really can't control me
You really can't control me
He really thought he really had a hold on me
He really thought
(They thought they really had control of me) he really had
He really thought he really had a hold on me
He really thought
(They thought they really had control of me) he really had
He really thought he really had control of me
He really thought
(They thought they really had control of me) he really had
He really thought he really had a hold on me
He really thought
(They thought they really had control of me) he really had
Listen, I've got problems of my own
Flashin' cameras, taps on my phone
Even in my home I ain't safe as I should be
Things always missin'
Maybe it could be my friends
They ain't friends if they robbin' me
Stoppin' me from makin' a profit, see
Apology shallow like the ocean
I guess I'll resort to gun totin'
If I was dead broke and smokin'
I'd probably be by my lonesome
I'm a killer nigga, I ain't jokin'
Indo smoke got me choked and I'm hopin'
The fool comes slippin'
So I could blow 'em open
This time around
I changed up my flow
Got rid of the rocks
Got Pitts by the door
A real set of peoples to watch my back
Stay away from strangers
So I won't slack
And I know my nigga Mike like that (this time around, yeah)
Baby
He really thought he really had a control of me
He really thought
(They thought they really had control of me) he really had
He really thought he really had a hold on me
He really thought
(They thought they really had control of me) he really had
He really thought he really had control of me
He really thought he really had (control of me)
He really thought he really had a hold on me
He really thought he really had a hold on me
He really
He really got control of me
He really thought (he really got control of me)
He really thought he really had a hold on me
This time around, yeah
He really thought
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
I've grown up listening to MJ's more innocent songs that stay PG, somehow. But as I got older, I heard his more mature songs like Morphine, Scream, This Time Around...and it never fails to make me jump at the very pronounced cursing he uses. I'm so used to never hearing him curse that its humorous to me when he curses. He spits it out. =]