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.
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Listen boy, I don't wanna see you let a good thing slip away (slip away)
You know I don't like watching anybody make the same mistakes I made
She's a real nice girl and she's always there for you
But a nice girl wouldn't tell you what you should do
Oh, listen boy, I'm sure that you think you got it all under control
You don't want somebody tellin' you the way to stay in someone's soul
You're a big boy now and you'll never let her go (you know you'll never let her go)
But that's just the kind of thing she ought to know
Tell her about it, tell her everything you feel
Give her every reason to accept that you're for real
Tell her about it, tell her all your crazy dreams
Let her know you need her, let her know how much she means
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Listen boy, it's not automatically a certain guarantee (certain guarantee)
To ensure yourself, you've got to provide communication constantly
When you love someone, you're always insecure
And there's only one good way to reassure
Tell her about it, let her know how much you care
When she can't be with you, tell her you wish you were there
Tell her about it, every day before you leave
Pay her some attention, give her something to believe
'Cause now and then she'll get to worrying
Just because you haven't spoken for so long
And though you may not have done anything
Will that be a consolation when she's gone?
Listen boy, it's good information from a man who's made mistakes
Just a word or two that she gets from you could be the difference that it makes
She's a trusting soul, she's put her trust in you (you know she put her trust in you)
But a girl like that won't tell you what you should do
Tell her about it, tell her everything you feel
Give her every reason to accept that you're for real
Tell her about it, tell her all your crazy dreams
Let her know you need her, let her know how much she means
Tell her about it
Tell her how you feel right now
Just tell her about it
The girl don't want to wait too long
You got to tell her about it
Tell her now and you won't go wrong
You got to tell her about it
Before it gets too late
You've got to tell her about it
You know the girl don't want to wait
You got to tell her about it
You got to tell, tell, tell her about it
Now, tell her about it
Woo, woo
Ooh-ooh-ooh
Listen boy, I don't wanna see you let a good thing slip away (slip away)
You know I don't like watching anybody make the same mistakes I made
She's a real nice girl and she's always there for you
But a nice girl wouldn't tell you what you should do
Oh, listen boy, I'm sure that you think you got it all under control
You don't want somebody tellin' you the way to stay in someone's soul
You're a big boy now and you'll never let her go (you know you'll never let her go)
But that's just the kind of thing she ought to know
Tell her about it, tell her everything you feel
Give her every reason to accept that you're for real
Tell her about it, tell her all your crazy dreams
Let her know you need her, let her know how much she means
Ooh-ooh
Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh
Listen boy, it's not automatically a certain guarantee (certain guarantee)
To ensure yourself, you've got to provide communication constantly
When you love someone, you're always insecure
And there's only one good way to reassure
Tell her about it, let her know how much you care
When she can't be with you, tell her you wish you were there
Tell her about it, every day before you leave
Pay her some attention, give her something to believe
'Cause now and then she'll get to worrying
Just because you haven't spoken for so long
And though you may not have done anything
Will that be a consolation when she's gone?
Listen boy, it's good information from a man who's made mistakes
Just a word or two that she gets from you could be the difference that it makes
She's a trusting soul, she's put her trust in you (you know she put her trust in you)
But a girl like that won't tell you what you should do
Tell her about it, tell her everything you feel
Give her every reason to accept that you're for real
Tell her about it, tell her all your crazy dreams
Let her know you need her, let her know how much she means
Tell her about it
Tell her how you feel right now
Just tell her about it
The girl don't want to wait too long
You got to tell her about it
Tell her now and you won't go wrong
You got to tell her about it
Before it gets too late
You've got to tell her about it
You know the girl don't want to wait
You got to tell her about it
You got to tell, tell, tell her about it
Now, tell her about it
Woo, woo
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Great version of a great song,
Good advice for men - and for women, too. Everyone feels insecure. Talk to your partner.