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.
When you walk away
You don't hear me say please
Oh baby, don't go
Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight
It's hard to let it go
You're giving me too many things
Lately you're all I need
You smiled at me and said
Don't get me wrong I love you
But does that mean I have to meet your father?
When we are older you'll understand
What I meant when I said no
I don't think life is quite that simple
When you walk away
You don't hear me say please
Oh baby, don't go
Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight
It's hard to let it go
(So simple and clean, baby)
The daily things
(like this and that and what, what)
That keep us all busy
Are confusing me
That's when you came to me and said
"Wish I could prove I love you
But does that mean I have to walk on water?
When we are older you'll understand
It's enough when I say so
And maybe somethings are that simple"
When you walk away
You don't hear me say please
Oh baby, don't go
Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight
It's hard to let it go
Hold me
Whatever lies beyond this morning
Is a little later on
Regardless of warnings, the future doesn't scare me at all
Nothing's like before
When you walk away
You don't hear me say please
Oh baby, don't go
Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight
It's hard to let it go
Hold me
Whatever lies beyond this morning
Is a little later on
Regardless of warnings, the future doesn't scare me at all
Nothing's like before
Hold me
Whatever lies beyond this morning
Is a little later on
Regardless of warnings the future doesn't scare me at all
Nothing's like before
You don't hear me say please
Oh baby, don't go
Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight
It's hard to let it go
You're giving me too many things
Lately you're all I need
You smiled at me and said
Don't get me wrong I love you
But does that mean I have to meet your father?
When we are older you'll understand
What I meant when I said no
I don't think life is quite that simple
When you walk away
You don't hear me say please
Oh baby, don't go
Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight
It's hard to let it go
(So simple and clean, baby)
The daily things
(like this and that and what, what)
That keep us all busy
Are confusing me
That's when you came to me and said
"Wish I could prove I love you
But does that mean I have to walk on water?
When we are older you'll understand
It's enough when I say so
And maybe somethings are that simple"
When you walk away
You don't hear me say please
Oh baby, don't go
Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight
It's hard to let it go
Hold me
Whatever lies beyond this morning
Is a little later on
Regardless of warnings, the future doesn't scare me at all
Nothing's like before
When you walk away
You don't hear me say please
Oh baby, don't go
Simple and clean is the way that you're making me feel tonight
It's hard to let it go
Hold me
Whatever lies beyond this morning
Is a little later on
Regardless of warnings, the future doesn't scare me at all
Nothing's like before
Hold me
Whatever lies beyond this morning
Is a little later on
Regardless of warnings the future doesn't scare me at all
Nothing's like before
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Just listening to it at work, looking for a break from the grind. (I've loved it since it was first featured in the PS2 game "Kingdom Hearts" -- the monstrous joint success from Square Enix and Disney. Anyway.)
It occurred to me, rather suddenly, that it fits EXACTLY what I'm going through. Utada's in her what, twenties, I think? Not sure. Anyhow, curious to hear the Japanese version as apparently the meaning is quite different. But for me, the English version seems to be a commentary on the traditions of commitment. (I think it was featured in the game more for marketing reasons than it truly being indicative of the characters and story.)
Follow me, here.
It's at first a fairly new couple, both wanting to commit to each other, but retain their independence as people. He loves her, he says, but does that mean they have to marry? (Meeting the parents being a typical first step in the process of wedding.)
She agrees that no, the simplicity of the relationship is what she's been looking for and she'll try to take it at face value that they are committed to one another.
Now. Fast forward. They've been together for awhile, happy, or relatively so. But the "daily things that keep us all busy" are "confusing" her. Shouldn't they settle down? Isn't that what people do? But they're happy the way they are. But if they don't, what will happen to the relationship? However, he agrees that the way things are is fine, and why upset the status quo? He wishes he could "prove that he loves her", but is seems an impossible feat short of doing something of which they're both unsure.
In an effort to quell her fears, he offers that, as time continues on, the longer they stay together exactly as they are, she won't need reaffirmation and will come to believe that he does love her as he says, even if their union is not legally bound for all the world to see.
Eventually she comes to ponder ... maybe they could just stay as they are. Perhaps things really "are that simple".
The ending refrain is the conclusion of the decision, and she doesn't want to walk away from something that fulfills them both just to be traditional and as she's always been instructed to be. So, "hold me", she says, quite literally. And whatever lies down the road years from now isn't today or now. Even though the little voice inside her head, and quite possibly friends and relatives tell her that this man may never marry her, ("regardless of warnings") -- she doesn't care and is willing to accept the possibility.
Should he love her as he says, when they are older, they'll both understand that whatever they choose to do is perfectly acceptable, as they captain their relationship and no one else. Should they ever make it official or just official between the two of them.
As a quick addendum, the chorus, "when you walk away ..." essentially is her grasp of her own independence she's equally unwilling to relinquish. When he tells her that marriage isn't for him, she's not giving any ultimatums, or that she demands anything from him. In fact, "simple and clean" is the way she's enjoying it. And despite the criticisms from marriage proponents, she's enjoying her relationship the way it is.
Just my $0.02.