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.
Stole, stole
Oh, oh
Stole, stole
He was always such a nice boy
The quiet one, with good intentions
He was down for his brother, respectful to his mother
A good boy
But good don't get attention
One kid with a promise
The brightest kid in school, he's not a fool
Readin' books about science and smart stuff
It's not enough, no
'Cause smart don't make you cool, whoa
He's not invisible anymore
With his Father's nine and a broken fuse
Since he walked through that classroom door
He's all over prime-time news
Mary's got the same size hands as Marilyn Monroe
She put her fingers in the imprints
At Mann's Chinese Theater Show
She could've been a movie star
Never got the chance to go that far
Her life was stole, oh
Now we'll never know
(No, no, no, no, stole, stole, oh)
They were cryin' to the camera, said he never fitted in
He wasn't welcome
He showed up to the parties we was hangin' in
Some guys were puttin' him down, bullyin' him 'round, 'round
Now I wish I would've talked to him
Gave him the time of day and not turned away
If I would've been the one to maybe go this far
He might have stayed at home
Playin' angry chords on his guitar
He's not invisible anymore
With his baggy pants and his legs in chains
Since he walked through that classroom door
Everybody knows his name
Mary's got the same size hands as Marilyn Monroe (oh)
She put her fingers in the imprints (ooh)
At Mann's Chinese Theater Show (she could've been a movie star)
She could've been a movie star (oh-oh-oh)
Never got the chance to go that far (oh)
Her life was stole, oh
Now we'll never know (now we'll never know, oh)
Greg was always gettin' net from twenty feet away (twenty feet away)
He had a tryout with the Sixers, couldn't wait for Saturday (Saturday)
Now we're never gonna see him slam
Flyin' high as Kobe can
His life was stole, oh
Now we'll never know (now we'll never, never, never know)
Mm, now we'll never, never, never, never know
Stole, stole, stole
Stole, stole, stole, stole
Ooh-oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Mary's got the same size hands (same size hands) as Marilyn Monroe (oh-oh)
She put her fingers in the imprints
At Mann's Chinese Theater Show (she was gonna be a star, oh no)
She could've been a movie star
Never got the chance to go that far (never got the chance, yeah)
Her life was stole, oh (stole, stole)
Now we'll never know (now we'll never never know, no)
Greg was always gettin' net from twenty feet away (he had game, oh)
He had a tryout with the Sixers, couldn't wait for Saturday
Now we're never gonna see him slam (never see him)
Flyin' high as Kobe can
His life was stole, oh
Now we'll never know (now we'll never, never know, no)
Oh, no, no, no
Yeah, their lives were stole
Now we'll never know (stole, stole, stole)
We were here, all together, yesterday
(Stole, stole, stole)
Oh, oh
Stole, stole
He was always such a nice boy
The quiet one, with good intentions
He was down for his brother, respectful to his mother
A good boy
But good don't get attention
One kid with a promise
The brightest kid in school, he's not a fool
Readin' books about science and smart stuff
It's not enough, no
'Cause smart don't make you cool, whoa
He's not invisible anymore
With his Father's nine and a broken fuse
Since he walked through that classroom door
He's all over prime-time news
Mary's got the same size hands as Marilyn Monroe
She put her fingers in the imprints
At Mann's Chinese Theater Show
She could've been a movie star
Never got the chance to go that far
Her life was stole, oh
Now we'll never know
(No, no, no, no, stole, stole, oh)
They were cryin' to the camera, said he never fitted in
He wasn't welcome
He showed up to the parties we was hangin' in
Some guys were puttin' him down, bullyin' him 'round, 'round
Now I wish I would've talked to him
Gave him the time of day and not turned away
If I would've been the one to maybe go this far
He might have stayed at home
Playin' angry chords on his guitar
He's not invisible anymore
With his baggy pants and his legs in chains
Since he walked through that classroom door
Everybody knows his name
Mary's got the same size hands as Marilyn Monroe (oh)
She put her fingers in the imprints (ooh)
At Mann's Chinese Theater Show (she could've been a movie star)
She could've been a movie star (oh-oh-oh)
Never got the chance to go that far (oh)
Her life was stole, oh
Now we'll never know (now we'll never know, oh)
Greg was always gettin' net from twenty feet away (twenty feet away)
He had a tryout with the Sixers, couldn't wait for Saturday (Saturday)
Now we're never gonna see him slam
Flyin' high as Kobe can
His life was stole, oh
Now we'll never know (now we'll never, never, never know)
Mm, now we'll never, never, never, never know
Stole, stole, stole
Stole, stole, stole, stole
Ooh-oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Mary's got the same size hands (same size hands) as Marilyn Monroe (oh-oh)
She put her fingers in the imprints
At Mann's Chinese Theater Show (she was gonna be a star, oh no)
She could've been a movie star
Never got the chance to go that far (never got the chance, yeah)
Her life was stole, oh (stole, stole)
Now we'll never know (now we'll never never know, no)
Greg was always gettin' net from twenty feet away (he had game, oh)
He had a tryout with the Sixers, couldn't wait for Saturday
Now we're never gonna see him slam (never see him)
Flyin' high as Kobe can
His life was stole, oh
Now we'll never know (now we'll never, never know, no)
Oh, no, no, no
Yeah, their lives were stole
Now we'll never know (stole, stole, stole)
We were here, all together, yesterday
(Stole, stole, stole)
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
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.
Here's what I think:
In the video, the kid with the glasses was a good kid, smart, played the guitar well (He might have stayed at home playing angry chords on his guitar) and had good intentions like the song said. But was treated poorly and bullied to the point where he couldn't take it and snapped. So he shot himself in the school maybe to leave some guilt with the students for pushing him.
The song: Same story but different scenario. The kid instead started a school shooting. When she said, "everybody knows his name" means now everybody knows him for what he did and he's no longer invisible like everybody else use to treat him. Also, "He's all over the prime-time news" and "baggy pants and legs in chains" means he on the news and went to jail.
Scenario 2: The girl in the video was pregnant, ruining her chances of stardom or something
The song: I think he did shot her "her life was stole".
scenario 3: Another boy who is a star basketball player playing in the park with his friends, he saw what might had been a old rival. they both exchange looks meaning they weren't on good terms. Resulting him getting shot and killed.
The song: The good kid might had shot him as well or the same like the video.
The connection: Different scenarios, but it result in tragedies that happens to kids and teenagers. School bullying leading to suicide or homicide (school shooting). Pregnancy and young girls, and bright or talented students.. athletes like the boy was getting killed. Stuff like this happens everyday, and like she said. Lives get stolen because of this.
I love this song, she did a very good job. Hope she make more songs like this one day