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.
I'm spending my
I'm spending my days
I'm spending my
I'm spending my days
I'm spending my days
My day-mons yeah
They're taking up inside of my heart
They were trying to keep me entertained
But they were tearing me apart
Well my memory she was packing yeah
And I knew that she would never come back
She handed me a letter and then
Then she vanished in the black
And the letter said
(Things are what you make of them
Things are what you make of them
Let it be
And you know what I mean
Yeah you know what I mean
Things are what you make of them
Things are what you make of them
Let it be
And you know what I mean
Yeah you know what I mean)
Well I met up with my common sense
And I knew it by the way she stared
She said if you don't make a noise
I will never know your there
Ao I purchased me a ticket yeah
For a meeting with Jesus Christ
He shook my hand and offered me
Just this thimble of advice
He was telling me
Hello he-he-hello
Hey come on
Hello he-he-hello
Hey come on
Things are what you make of them
Things are what you make of them
Let be
Things are what you make of them
Things are what you make of them
Let be
Things are what you make of them
Things are what you make of them
You know what I mean
Yeah you know what I mean
I'm spending my days
I'm spending my
I'm spending my days
I'm spending my days
My day-mons yeah
They're taking up inside of my heart
They were trying to keep me entertained
But they were tearing me apart
Well my memory she was packing yeah
And I knew that she would never come back
She handed me a letter and then
Then she vanished in the black
And the letter said
(Things are what you make of them
Things are what you make of them
Let it be
And you know what I mean
Yeah you know what I mean
Things are what you make of them
Things are what you make of them
Let it be
And you know what I mean
Yeah you know what I mean)
Well I met up with my common sense
And I knew it by the way she stared
She said if you don't make a noise
I will never know your there
Ao I purchased me a ticket yeah
For a meeting with Jesus Christ
He shook my hand and offered me
Just this thimble of advice
He was telling me
Hello he-he-hello
Hey come on
Hello he-he-hello
Hey come on
Things are what you make of them
Things are what you make of them
Let be
Things are what you make of them
Things are what you make of them
Let be
Things are what you make of them
Things are what you make of them
You know what I mean
Yeah you know what I mean
Lyrics submitted by iagoAdmirer, edited by wronglyric
Things Are What You Make of Them Lyrics as written by Justin Rice Christian Rudder
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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Great version of a great song,
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The chorus is pretty damn catchy. I LOVE IT.
love it, it's about a very very sour relationship.
you think? i think it could apply to anything. i mean. its basicalyl saying you could be in any postition right now, eather it be a sour realtionship, fired fmo a job, or whatever, and you can make the best or worse of the situation. lvoelovelove the song.
I love that Bishop Allen puts little life lessons in their songs.
oh what insight Bishop Allen.
you've done it again.
Hooray for my first BA song!
With a near-complete collection on Bishop Allen's officially (an nearly officially) released music, this song is still one of the first that I play for others.
this is my favorite (and only song) by bishop allen but cause of it i'm gonna buy their cd this is so good i think he mighta wrote it bout a relationship but made sure it also worked for everything like megisme said and if any1 has the tab for this i would LOVE for u to give it to me
I was supposed to spend my winter in sudan, and my visa wasn't processed in time. So I spent two weeks in a both physically and metaphorically icy Kansas City. this song was my story..
"My memory, she was packing" - saying goodbye to the rest of my team as they drove away to the airport
"My common sense" - A dear friend that I wasn't going to get to see, that I got to spend an evening with and who gave me advice and encouragement
"A meeting with Jesus Christ" - I went to the Cayman Islands on the last week of my break. I expected god to explain some grand reasoning behind what had just happened. I put my iPod on shuffle with the songs one of my friends had loaded onto it for me to listen to, and this wonderful song came up.
.... And that was how I became a Bishop Allen fan.
This song was in the movie Saved (which is awesome) and every time I get to that scene I get excited and start to sing along. It fits, considering the movie is about teen pregnancy.