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.
Dead as dead can be
The doctor tells me
But I just can't believe him
Ever the optimistic one
I'm sure of your ability to become
My perfect enemy
Wake up and face me
Don't play dead 'cause maybe
Someday I will walk away and say
You disappoint me
Maybe you're better off this way
Leaning over you here
Cold and catatonic
I catch a brief reflection
What you could and might have been
It's your right and your ability
To become my perfect enemy
Wake up (why can't you?)
And face me (come on now)
Don't play dead (don't play dead)
'Cause maybe (because maybe)
Someday I will walk away and say
You disappoint me
Maybe you're better off this way
Maybe you're better off this way
Maybe you're better off this way
Maybe you're better off this way
You're better off this
You're better off this
Maybe you're better off
Wake up (why can't you?)
And face me (come on now)
Don't play dead (don't play dead)
'Cause maybe (because maybe)
Someday I will walk away and say
You fucking disappoint me
Maybe you're better off this way
Go ahead and play dead
I know that you can hear this
Go ahead and play dead
Why can't you turn and face me?
Why can't you turn and face me?
Why can't you turn and face me?
Why can't you turn and face me?
You fucking disappoint me
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
The doctor tells me
But I just can't believe him
Ever the optimistic one
I'm sure of your ability to become
My perfect enemy
Wake up and face me
Don't play dead 'cause maybe
Someday I will walk away and say
You disappoint me
Maybe you're better off this way
Leaning over you here
Cold and catatonic
I catch a brief reflection
What you could and might have been
It's your right and your ability
To become my perfect enemy
Wake up (why can't you?)
And face me (come on now)
Don't play dead (don't play dead)
'Cause maybe (because maybe)
Someday I will walk away and say
You disappoint me
Maybe you're better off this way
Maybe you're better off this way
Maybe you're better off this way
Maybe you're better off this way
You're better off this
You're better off this
Maybe you're better off
Wake up (why can't you?)
And face me (come on now)
Don't play dead (don't play dead)
'Cause maybe (because maybe)
Someday I will walk away and say
You fucking disappoint me
Maybe you're better off this way
Go ahead and play dead
I know that you can hear this
Go ahead and play dead
Why can't you turn and face me?
Why can't you turn and face me?
Why can't you turn and face me?
Why can't you turn and face me?
You fucking disappoint me
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Passive-aggressive bullshit
Lyrics submitted by ab0ve, edited by stringray, fallenwarrior
Passive Lyrics as written by Danny Lohner Billy Howerdel
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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Great version of a great song,
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I believe this is a more personal song, contrary to the meaning of the whole album. I believe it is about his mother who has been in a coma for 27 years before she died. However at the time this was written (which was before APC was created) she was still alive. I find this song highly emotional and moving.
"Dead as dead can be the doctor tells me" refers to the actual doctor who watched over his mother and the coma she was in. Maynard constantly refers to the coma by telling his mother to "wake up", she "plays dead". He wishes to have a normal relationship with his mother, and he also expresses his feelings about his mothers faith in christianity by saying "you dissapoint me." It may be harsh but it is a common relationship between parant and child to have explosive fights that contain words not really meant such as "you dissapoint me." This is also relevant in many other Maynards songs.
This may or may not be the true meaning but i believe it is.
IF this is about his mother, the line 'maybe someday I'll walk away' actually makes sense because he did walk away from his mother to live with his father because he couldn't stand his step father and the life he gave him and his mother. I think there is underlined guilt in these lyrics.
I may be wrong about this, but I'm pretty sure his mother wasn't in a coma for 27 years. She was crippled and hospitalized a lot, but I don't think she was comatose. Maybe towards the end she was, I'm not completely clear on that part.
@jamesquay wow.... Such a powerful song to begin with and then you add the meaning to it and, just wow...
@jamesquay Judith was not in a coma. She was in an accident that left her crippled. The accident only strengthened her faith, which was baffling and frustrating to Maynard (the song Judith)... but no coma.
@michaelodu She wasn’t in an accident, as such. She suffered an aneurysm and was left paralyzed for 27 years.