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.
Some people live for the fortune
Some people live just for the fame
Some people live for the power, yeah
Some people live just to play the game
Some people think that the physical things define what's within
And I've been there before, and that life's a bore
So full of the superficial
Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you, baby
If I ain't got you, baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you, yeah
Some people search for a fountain
That promises forever young (you know)
Some people need three dozen roses
And that's the only way to prove you love them
Hand me the world on a silver platter
And what good would it be
With no one to share, with no one who truly cares for me
Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you, baby
If I ain't got you, baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you, you, you
Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you, baby
If I ain't got you, baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you, yeah
If I ain't got you with me, baby, oh, ooh
Said nothing in this whole wide world don't mean a thing
If I ain't got you with me, baby
Some people live just for the fame
Some people live for the power, yeah
Some people live just to play the game
Some people think that the physical things define what's within
And I've been there before, and that life's a bore
So full of the superficial
Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you, baby
If I ain't got you, baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you, yeah
Some people search for a fountain
That promises forever young (you know)
Some people need three dozen roses
And that's the only way to prove you love them
Hand me the world on a silver platter
And what good would it be
With no one to share, with no one who truly cares for me
Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you, baby
If I ain't got you, baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you, you, you
Some people want it all
But I don't want nothing at all
If it ain't you, baby
If I ain't got you, baby
Some people want diamond rings
Some just want everything
But everything means nothing
If I ain't got you, yeah
If I ain't got you with me, baby, oh, ooh
Said nothing in this whole wide world don't mean a thing
If I ain't got you with me, baby
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I think alicia put her personal experiences as a celebrity into her true feelings of "whats inside". she leads a very luxurious life, but shes still a person and i think she is trying to say she values love and present life than worrying about looks, luxuries, the past, or the future.
Its about being in love and not caring about material things or anything like that because all she needs is her lover. And how you could have everything in the world yet still be unhappy without that one special person. It is the most romantic meaningful song ever.
such a beautiful song, its pretty self explainitory though
Agree with you Virrrrgo
OMG This is such a beautiful song... I love the piano!!!!
This song brings out so much emotion in me. I think about a guy i'm into, and I know I can't live without him. Like Ms. Keys says, "But everything means nothing, if I ain't got you." Go Alicia!
i love this song because it shows how much u love someone and Alicia Keys expresses how she feels about love and hate and emotions. Also it shows that u cant let go of that person's love!!
i love this song because it shows how much u love someone and Alicia Keys expresses how she feels about love and hate and emotions. Also it shows that u cant let go of that person's love!!
so may i start out by saying that i am not really a fan of hip hop of R&B but this song and some of alicia keys other stuff is really good and i enjoy listening to is even though i'm more of a pinback kind of person
This song is by far my favorite. Its so awesome and very well put together. They always play it at work, I love it.