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.
We get high in back seats of cars
We break into mobile homes
We go to sleep to shake appeal
Never wake up on our own
And that's the way we get by
The way we get by
Oh, that's the way we get by
The way we get by
We go out in stormy weather
We rarely practice discern
We make love to some weird sin
We seek out the taciturn
And that's the way we get by
The way we get by
Oh, that's the way we get by
The way we get by
Well, that's the way we get by
The way we get by
The way
Well, that's the way we get by
That's the way we get by
We found a new kind of dance in a magazine
Tried it out, it's like nothing you ever seen
You sweet talk like a cop and you know it
You bought a new bag of pot, said, "let's make a new start"
And that's the way to my heart
The way to my heart
That's the way we get by
The way we get by
Well, that's the way we get by
The way we get by
The way
Well, that's the way we get by
That's the way we get by
We get high in back seats of cars
We put faith in our concerns
Fall in love to down on the street
We believe in the sum of ourselves
I said, that's the way we get by
The way we get by
Oh, that's the way we get by
The way we get by
Well, that's the way we get by
The way we get by
The way
That's the way we get by
That's the way we get by
We break into mobile homes
We go to sleep to shake appeal
Never wake up on our own
And that's the way we get by
The way we get by
Oh, that's the way we get by
The way we get by
We go out in stormy weather
We rarely practice discern
We make love to some weird sin
We seek out the taciturn
And that's the way we get by
The way we get by
Oh, that's the way we get by
The way we get by
Well, that's the way we get by
The way we get by
The way
Well, that's the way we get by
That's the way we get by
We found a new kind of dance in a magazine
Tried it out, it's like nothing you ever seen
You sweet talk like a cop and you know it
You bought a new bag of pot, said, "let's make a new start"
And that's the way to my heart
The way to my heart
That's the way we get by
The way we get by
Well, that's the way we get by
The way we get by
The way
Well, that's the way we get by
That's the way we get by
We get high in back seats of cars
We put faith in our concerns
Fall in love to down on the street
We believe in the sum of ourselves
I said, that's the way we get by
The way we get by
Oh, that's the way we get by
The way we get by
Well, that's the way we get by
The way we get by
The way
That's the way we get by
That's the way we get by
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
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Just some things I wanted to add:
first, some comments are sort of debating whether the lifestyle that the song is about is being described as good or bad, but I think the words "that's just the way we get by" are meant to carry the implication in themselves that it's neither a good nor a bad lifestyle, it's simply the way they live and it works so it doesn't matter what anyone thinks of it
also, to devastator who said "just because they mention pot doesn't mean they are stoners", well i really doubt they'd say they get high 3 times in a song if they didn't smoke regularly, but i don't think weed is the focus of the song or even a very important part of its message, it's simply a prime example and constant part of their lifestyle, which, as i said, they aren't glorifying or showing the evils of but simply describing as the premise of the song
ps: I personally don't mind crappy mainstream shows like the OC showcasing good music like spoon. Although I have much more respect for anyone that discovers spoon themselves and not through the OC, at least those that discover it through the OC aren't just listening to the mainstream rap shit on most of the radio. And while some would argue that it doesn't matter what they listen to and that they are dragging good music into a teeny bopper hell hole, I prefer the less cynical (but possibly overly hopeful) belief that truly good music retains it's dignity and integrity (it's goodness) no matter who listens to it and the music's message will wear off at least a little on to anyone that listens to it, even someone that watches the OC