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.
Kept my coat on
While you put your empty arms around me
Kept my shirt on
And wrestled my memory down
When I put my arm around you
I had to hold my mand in place
I didn't move to keep you from feeling chased
dropping off
You smile easy
What was I supposed to say?
Hits the ground
And it dies easy
Why did I decide to stay?
looks like I should forget you now
Underneath the covers I'm not naked
Maybe you were never next to me
Does all recorded history start tomorrow morning?
Did you forget or were your kisses my final warning?
a spent bullet brought me down
Add me to the list you stopped with blanks
Or how about a rundown of the top 100
Where do I rank
Did I even make the list
Or did I make a big mistake?
dropping off
You smile easy
What was I supposed to say
While you put your empty arms around me
Kept my shirt on
And wrestled my memory down
When I put my arm around you
I had to hold my mand in place
I didn't move to keep you from feeling chased
dropping off
You smile easy
What was I supposed to say?
Hits the ground
And it dies easy
Why did I decide to stay?
looks like I should forget you now
Underneath the covers I'm not naked
Maybe you were never next to me
Does all recorded history start tomorrow morning?
Did you forget or were your kisses my final warning?
a spent bullet brought me down
Add me to the list you stopped with blanks
Or how about a rundown of the top 100
Where do I rank
Did I even make the list
Or did I make a big mistake?
dropping off
You smile easy
What was I supposed to say
Lyrics submitted by LuckCharm, edited by PaulGuinan, Carrandas
Why Did I Decide to Stay? Lyrics as written by Neil Jacob Gust Brandt Gustav Peterson
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
I believe this song is about the narrator being seduced into a one night stand. He then regrets it, even goes through a stage of denial ("maybe you were never next to me"), and realizes the person he slept with sleeps sleeps with everybody.
yeah, on hindsight I agree.x
I think it is about looking back on an unloving relationship and missing it but knowing that he's better off going.
Before Gust sings "A spent bullet, it brought me down", I believe he sings "Was I just generous, because I'm lonely".
Yeah, I get the sense that it\'s about the realization that you\'re just another notch on the bed.post