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 listen to my radio
I'm waiting for that song to play
I wonder what you're gonna do
Am I going to hear that song today
'Cause I'm counting every second
Till I can sing along
But the line is always busy
And you're not playing the song
Can't you see I'm waiting here for you
Cause I need to hear it
Though I don't know why
To lift up my spirits
And bring a tear right to my eye
I turn it up
When I hear that song
I turn it up
And I sing along
Got to hear that song again DJ
I turn it up
When I hear that song
I turn it up
And I sing along
Got to hear my favorite song again today
You do what you want to do
You say what you want to say
The choice is always up to you
To play what you want to play
So come on Mr. DJ and play us a song
The one that makes us smile and makes us sing along
Can't you see I'm calling out to you
'Cause I need to hear it
Though I don't know why
To lift up my spirits
And bring tear right to my eye
I turn it up
When I hear that song
I turn it up
And I sing along
Got to hear that song again DJ
I turn it up
When I hear that song
I turn it up
And I sing along
Got to hear my favorite song again today
Is there nothing I can do
I've been waiting here so long
The choice is up to you
Won't you give that song a play
Cause I got to hear it
And I need to hear it
Yeah I need to hear it again
I turn it up
When I hear that song
I turn it up
And I sing along
Got to hear that song again DJ
I turn it up
When I hear that song
I turn it up
And I sing along
Got to hear my favorite song again today
I turn it up
I need to hear that song
I turn it up
I need to hear that song
I turn it up
I need to hear that song again today
Oh yeah
I turn it up
I'm waiting for that song to play
I wonder what you're gonna do
Am I going to hear that song today
'Cause I'm counting every second
Till I can sing along
But the line is always busy
And you're not playing the song
Can't you see I'm waiting here for you
Cause I need to hear it
Though I don't know why
To lift up my spirits
And bring a tear right to my eye
I turn it up
When I hear that song
I turn it up
And I sing along
Got to hear that song again DJ
I turn it up
When I hear that song
I turn it up
And I sing along
Got to hear my favorite song again today
You do what you want to do
You say what you want to say
The choice is always up to you
To play what you want to play
So come on Mr. DJ and play us a song
The one that makes us smile and makes us sing along
Can't you see I'm calling out to you
'Cause I need to hear it
Though I don't know why
To lift up my spirits
And bring tear right to my eye
I turn it up
When I hear that song
I turn it up
And I sing along
Got to hear that song again DJ
I turn it up
When I hear that song
I turn it up
And I sing along
Got to hear my favorite song again today
Is there nothing I can do
I've been waiting here so long
The choice is up to you
Won't you give that song a play
Cause I got to hear it
And I need to hear it
Yeah I need to hear it again
I turn it up
When I hear that song
I turn it up
And I sing along
Got to hear that song again DJ
I turn it up
When I hear that song
I turn it up
And I sing along
Got to hear my favorite song again today
I turn it up
I need to hear that song
I turn it up
I need to hear that song
I turn it up
I need to hear that song again today
Oh yeah
I turn it up
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
It's about a person who likes a song so much that they want to hear it all the time.