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.
If I were you
I would never let me go
If I were you
I would always love me so
I can't play your part in life
But I would surely walk my way
I cannot think the way you think
But I would never go away
You can trust me when I say
That I will always be for real
You can always count on me
No matter how alone you feel
If I were you
I would never let me go
If I were you
I would always love me so
If I were you
I would never
I would always
I can't tell you what to do
I can only hope for more
More decisions to be good
Like the way they were before
I can't dream the things you dream
Cause I would not know where to start
Life is never what is seems
When two souls are far apart
I don't want to know
How it feels to lose a friend
And if I were you
I would never leave again
If I were you
I would never let me go
If I were you
I would always love me so
If I were you
If I were you
I would never let me go
If I were you
I would always love me so
If I were you
I would never let me go
If I were you
I would always love me so
I can't play your part in life
But I would surely walk my way
I cannot think the way you think
But I would never go away
You can trust me when I say
That I will always be for real
You can always count on me
No matter how alone you feel
If I were you
I would never let me go
If I were you
I would always love me so
If I were you
I would never
I would always
I can't tell you what to do
I can only hope for more
More decisions to be good
Like the way they were before
I can't dream the things you dream
Cause I would not know where to start
Life is never what is seems
When two souls are far apart
I don't want to know
How it feels to lose a friend
And if I were you
I would never leave again
If I were you
I would never let me go
If I were you
I would always love me so
If I were you
If I were you
I would never let me go
If I were you
I would always love me so
If I were you
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
what happened to the lyrics?!?!?! here's the complete ones:
If I were you I would never let me go If I were you I would always love me so If I were you
I can't play your part in life But I would surely walk my way I cannot think the way you think But I would never go away
You can trust me when I say That I will always be for real You can always count on me No matter how alone you feel
If I were you I would never let me go If I were you I would always love me so If I were you
I would never.. I would always..
I can't tell you what to do I can only hope for more More decisions to be good Like the way they were before
I can't dream the things you dream 'Cause I would not know where to start Life is never what it seems When two souls are far apart
I don't wanna know How it feels to lose a friend And if I were you I would never leave again
If I were you I would never let me go If I were you I would always love me so If I were you
this is one of my favorite dance songs. the meaning is really simple. the girl in this song is hoping that this person will return the feelings she has for them. but this person seems to have lost interest, and now they're drifting apart. so she's trying to persuade them to change their mind.
for some reason, this song makes my heart wrench... in a good way, that is :|
she sounds kinda full of herself...
I agree she sounds full of herself as if she is bossying the person (you) around. lol :] reminds me of my friends and her boyfriends relationship anyways i really like this song though its nice dancy (is tat a word) song.