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.
Woh everything I do I do for you
Ow
Oh yeah
We touch and you're afraid of me
And we burn and now I'm at your feet
High speed, but you know you're in safe hands
Oh, in the dark we make a brighter light
From one spark to the horizon wide
We trust, and together we tame the land, yeah
Oh you'd be forgiven if you think you're dreaming
But we're working night and day to make a dream come true, yeah
Everything I do is driven by you
Oh, come on babe
Oh well it's tough to make a journey through
The right stuff is dead ahead of you and me
And you know we still got time
Whoo, hold on tight to the driving wheel
This ride is really out of line
Raw deal, but there's no other that's worth a dime
You know I love you but you drive me crazy
'Cause you're saying all the things I want to say to you
(You say) everything I do is driven by you
Everything we do, oh yeah, everything we do
Everything we do, everything we do
Everything we do is driven by you
Inner children lost their way
Now they know the price you pay
I'm holding on to life with you
'Cause life without you just won't do
Driven by you
Ah, you know we're never gonna know who's dreaming
But we're working night and day to make the dream come true yeah
Everything I do is driven by you
Everything we do, everything we do, everything we do
Yeah everything we do, everything we do, yeah everything we do
Everything we do, everything we do, everything we do
Is driven by, driven by, driven by you
Yeah
Oh everything I do, I do for you
Ow
Oh yeah
We touch and you're afraid of me
And we burn and now I'm at your feet
High speed, but you know you're in safe hands
Oh, in the dark we make a brighter light
From one spark to the horizon wide
We trust, and together we tame the land, yeah
Oh you'd be forgiven if you think you're dreaming
But we're working night and day to make a dream come true, yeah
Everything I do is driven by you
Oh, come on babe
Oh well it's tough to make a journey through
The right stuff is dead ahead of you and me
And you know we still got time
Whoo, hold on tight to the driving wheel
This ride is really out of line
Raw deal, but there's no other that's worth a dime
You know I love you but you drive me crazy
'Cause you're saying all the things I want to say to you
(You say) everything I do is driven by you
Everything we do, oh yeah, everything we do
Everything we do, everything we do
Everything we do is driven by you
Inner children lost their way
Now they know the price you pay
I'm holding on to life with you
'Cause life without you just won't do
Driven by you
Ah, you know we're never gonna know who's dreaming
But we're working night and day to make the dream come true yeah
Everything I do is driven by you
Everything we do, everything we do, everything we do
Yeah everything we do, everything we do, yeah everything we do
Everything we do, everything we do, everything we do
Is driven by, driven by, driven by you
Yeah
Oh everything I do, I do for you
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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Great version of a great song,
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this is such a typical brian song, rocky, up beat and to put it bluntly just fuckin amazin!!! its catchy with great guitar in it. and whats it about? well just givin relationships your best go because you just love them so much and they determine everything you want. who cant relate to that??? xxx