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.
People say everyday that she's taking you away,
And that we should leave her,
Everytime I see her,
I ask you why, and did she lie about those times with all those other guys?
I could see it a mile away, yeah, you're with her everyday,
The nights that you just missed,
The things that you promised,
They never stay (stay)
She's never seen the sun,
She wears shorts and I run away,
[Chorus]
He's dating Casper and he's afraid to ask her for his manhood back,
Please give me my friend back,
He's dating Casper, his heart races faster, just for her,
Why can't we be like we were?
First you skip but now you slip,
Sure is sad seeing a guy thats whipped,
Just a puppet to sink below, she's using you all for show.
Back in the day, we'd come and play,
But now you're asking if you may,
Can't you see that she's not the one?
She can't even see the sun,
The nights that you just missed,
The things that you promised,
They never stay (stay)
She's never seen the sun,
She wears shorts and I run away,
[Chorus]
I'll ask her, will she rip my heart right out,
If she hurt me once again? (Will you ask her?)
I'll tell her, that's not what I'm all about,
I'll stop hurting all my friends, we're okay,
[Chorus]
He's going away,
Away,
Why can't we be like we were?
And that we should leave her,
Everytime I see her,
I ask you why, and did she lie about those times with all those other guys?
I could see it a mile away, yeah, you're with her everyday,
The nights that you just missed,
The things that you promised,
They never stay (stay)
She's never seen the sun,
She wears shorts and I run away,
[Chorus]
He's dating Casper and he's afraid to ask her for his manhood back,
Please give me my friend back,
He's dating Casper, his heart races faster, just for her,
Why can't we be like we were?
First you skip but now you slip,
Sure is sad seeing a guy thats whipped,
Just a puppet to sink below, she's using you all for show.
Back in the day, we'd come and play,
But now you're asking if you may,
Can't you see that she's not the one?
She can't even see the sun,
The nights that you just missed,
The things that you promised,
They never stay (stay)
She's never seen the sun,
She wears shorts and I run away,
[Chorus]
I'll ask her, will she rip my heart right out,
If she hurt me once again? (Will you ask her?)
I'll tell her, that's not what I'm all about,
I'll stop hurting all my friends, we're okay,
[Chorus]
He's going away,
Away,
Why can't we be like we were?
Lyrics submitted by ruben
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.
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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.
Heard this song for the first time in a while today and I still love it.... Though, I must admit... I prefer a pale girl over a tan one any day of the week.