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'd like to run away from you
But if I were to leave you I would die
I'd like to break the chains you put around me
And yet I'll never try
No matter what you do you drive me crazy
I'd rather be alone
But then I know my life would be so empty
As soon as you have gone
Impossible to live with you
But I could never live without you
For whatever you do
For whatever you do
I never, never, never
Want to be in love with anyone but you
You make me sad
You make me strong
You make me mad
You make me long for you
You make me long for you
You make me live
You make me die
You make me laugh
You make me cry for you
You make me cry for you
I hate you
Then I love you
Then I love you
Then I hate you
Then I love you, I love you more
For whatever you do
I never, never, never
Want to be in love with anyone but you
You treat me wrong
You treat me right
You let me be
You make me fight with you
I could never live without you
You make me high
You bring me down
You set me free
You hold me bound to you
I hate you
Then I love you
Then I love you
Then I hate you
Then I love you more
For whatever you do
Whatever you do
I never, never, never
Want to be in love with anyone but you
I never, never, never
I never, never, never
I never, never, never
Want to be in love with anyone but you
But you
But if I were to leave you I would die
I'd like to break the chains you put around me
And yet I'll never try
No matter what you do you drive me crazy
I'd rather be alone
But then I know my life would be so empty
As soon as you have gone
Impossible to live with you
But I could never live without you
For whatever you do
For whatever you do
I never, never, never
Want to be in love with anyone but you
You make me sad
You make me strong
You make me mad
You make me long for you
You make me long for you
You make me live
You make me die
You make me laugh
You make me cry for you
You make me cry for you
I hate you
Then I love you
Then I love you
Then I hate you
Then I love you, I love you more
For whatever you do
I never, never, never
Want to be in love with anyone but you
You treat me wrong
You treat me right
You let me be
You make me fight with you
I could never live without you
You make me high
You bring me down
You set me free
You hold me bound to you
I hate you
Then I love you
Then I love you
Then I hate you
Then I love you more
For whatever you do
Whatever you do
I never, never, never
Want to be in love with anyone but you
I never, never, never
I never, never, never
I never, never, never
Want to be in love with anyone but you
But you
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“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
I had a girl play this song to me every time I went to visit her and it took me 8 months to actually realise that it was about us. Yeah Im pretty dumb :P
Its hard to listen to it now, as we broke up 5 years ago, but I still have fond memories of those times.. its a nice song.
This song tells the story of longing for the one you love. Tells the story of going through the process of working up the courage to make it known...and hopefully not getting shot down.
Don't give up on love, for true love will always find its way.
It is such a nice song, with very true lyrics. It is hard when you love someone and you cannot show it in the open. I am in that situation. I met this guy 4 years ago and we immediately had a connection of some sort, I just knew he was attracted to me and vice versa!! But we are both married (unhappily). And we both have very jealous spouses that will not let us go. At last 2 years ago I got the courage to tell him I like him more than just friends!! He was very flattered and told me he feels the same. Now we are both waiting for the right moment to make a change in our current relationships so that we can be together forever.....I also told him I loved him last year and that I cannot live without him. He has not admitted to loving me as yet, but I am sure he does. He just told me that he does not want to get to committed now, because it will just make things difficult for both of us. I miss him so much and want to spend the rest of my life with him. This song reminds me such a lot of our circumstances and if I listen to it, it makes me think of him....