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 know, that your superstitious.
That you follow glamour,
Your so caught up they push you around, and up and down.
Because I see, its easy to be so blind.
When you say remember his face.
It's not so bad I say it cause its true.
That's change of style your eccentric when you smile.
That's change of style we could catch you but your always changing.
That's the punch line that's the way it should be,
And that's the last time you'll ever hear it from me.
That's the punch line.
How come in all of your fashion.
Magazines and people, they always look so mean
I know, I'm going down.
And I'm rolling over, I'm sick of that cynical kind of humor
Remember this world, its not so bad its coming after you.
That's the punch line that's the way it should be.
And that's the last time you'll ever hear it from me.
That's the punch line.
That's change of style, your eccentric when you smile.
That's change of style when we laugh its cause we're laughing with you.
That you follow glamour,
Your so caught up they push you around, and up and down.
Because I see, its easy to be so blind.
When you say remember his face.
It's not so bad I say it cause its true.
That's change of style your eccentric when you smile.
That's change of style we could catch you but your always changing.
That's the punch line that's the way it should be,
And that's the last time you'll ever hear it from me.
That's the punch line.
How come in all of your fashion.
Magazines and people, they always look so mean
I know, I'm going down.
And I'm rolling over, I'm sick of that cynical kind of humor
Remember this world, its not so bad its coming after you.
That's the punch line that's the way it should be.
And that's the last time you'll ever hear it from me.
That's the punch line.
That's change of style, your eccentric when you smile.
That's change of style when we laugh its cause we're laughing with you.
Lyrics submitted by opifex, edited by karritevoyager
That's the Punch Line Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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.
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Bottom line: DON'T Date girls who are into fashion...THEY SUCK.