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.
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers with a line and sinker
Look at me and don't forget (don't you know?)
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers with a line and sinker
Look at me and don't forget (don't you know?)
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
Today I don't feel pretty
And I'm tired of trying to fit right in
Don't think that you're so great
'Cause being great must suck
We don't always see the bright side
We all need ego suicide
You hung my id today
But I have licked my wounds and carried on
Everybody needs some sympathy
Santa seemed to miss my chimney
Reality is truly scaring me
So stand up straight and firmly say
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers with a line and sinker
Look at me and don't forget (don't you know?)
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers with a line and sinker
Look at me and don't forget (don't you know?)
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
My heart is in the right place
So wipe that smirk right off your face
Don't make me feel like that
'Cause that's just plain not nice
We don't always see the bright side
And I lied when I said I was fine
You slapped my face today
But I have licked my wounds and carried on
Everybody needs some sympathy
Santa seemed to miss my chimney
Reality is truly scaring me
So stand up straight and firmly say
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers with a line and sinker
Look at me and don't forget (don't you know?)
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers with a line and sinker
Look at me and don't forget (don't you know?)
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
Everybody needs some sympathy
Santa seemed to miss my chimney
You stole my luck from me
And now my fortune cookie's empty
'Cause you came and you stole it all from me
So stand up straight and firmly say
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers with a line and sinker
Look at me and don't forget (don't you know?)
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers with a line and sinker
Look at me and don't forget (don't you know?)
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
Fishing for the answers with a line and sinker
Look at me and don't forget (don't you know?)
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers with a line and sinker
Look at me and don't forget (don't you know?)
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
Today I don't feel pretty
And I'm tired of trying to fit right in
Don't think that you're so great
'Cause being great must suck
We don't always see the bright side
We all need ego suicide
You hung my id today
But I have licked my wounds and carried on
Everybody needs some sympathy
Santa seemed to miss my chimney
Reality is truly scaring me
So stand up straight and firmly say
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers with a line and sinker
Look at me and don't forget (don't you know?)
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers with a line and sinker
Look at me and don't forget (don't you know?)
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
My heart is in the right place
So wipe that smirk right off your face
Don't make me feel like that
'Cause that's just plain not nice
We don't always see the bright side
And I lied when I said I was fine
You slapped my face today
But I have licked my wounds and carried on
Everybody needs some sympathy
Santa seemed to miss my chimney
Reality is truly scaring me
So stand up straight and firmly say
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers with a line and sinker
Look at me and don't forget (don't you know?)
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers with a line and sinker
Look at me and don't forget (don't you know?)
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
Everybody needs some sympathy
Santa seemed to miss my chimney
You stole my luck from me
And now my fortune cookie's empty
'Cause you came and you stole it all from me
So stand up straight and firmly say
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers with a line and sinker
Look at me and don't forget (don't you know?)
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
What you see is what you get (don't you know?)
Fishing for the answers with a line and sinker
Look at me and don't forget (don't you know?)
Hard to get a grip with all these broken fingers
Lyrics submitted by Willowbear
Line & Sinker Lyrics as written by Ben Kowalewicz Aaron Solowoniuk
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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These lyrics are awesome! It's another anthem for the underdogs of the teenage population of western civilization who get picked on and stepped on by the popular ones. The line 'being great must suck' comes from how being popular is a hard job and how it must really suck if everybody's worshipping you all the time and trying to be like you. Because even though the popular people are the center of attention, they are always on display and they can never falter because they're basically icons and idols to all the faceless, nameless drones who follow trends and fads and don't know what their identity is. There's also a part about 'Santa seemed to miss my chimney' which talks about how being alone makes you isolated from the whole world, and it seems that no one gives a rat's ass about you anymore, even Santa Claus. Getting a grip with broken fingers is kind of ironic, because you can't hold onto something with broken fingers. This is a great song along with great lyrics.