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 turn my camera on
I cut my fingers on the way
On the way, the way I'm slipping away
I turn my feelings off
Y'made me untouchable for life
Yeah, yeah and you wasn't polite
It hit me like a tom
You hit me like a tom
On, on, and on
Ooh yeah
When I turn my feelings on
I turn my feelings on inside
Yeah, feel like I'm gonna ignite
I saw them stars go off
I saw them stars go off at night
Ooh yeah, and they're looking alright
Keep on blowin up
Keep on blowin em off
Get up roll it out
Keep on showin em out
Y'hit me like a tom
It hit me like a tom
On and on a tom
I turn my camera on
I cut my fingers on the way
On the way, on the way
I feel me slippin away
I wipe my feelings off
Y'made me untouchable for life
(Keep on rolling on)
Ooh yeah and you wasn't polite
Y'hit me like a tom
I don't know where it's from
It hit me like a tom-tom
Ooh yeah
Ooh yeah, I turned my camera on
Ooh yeah, I turned my camera on
Ooh yeah
Ooh yeah
I turned my camera on (hit me like a tom)
I turned my camera on (hit me like a tom)
I turned my camera on (hit me like a tom)
I turned my camera on
Feel this slip away
I cut my fingers on the way
On the way, the way I'm slipping away
I turn my feelings off
Y'made me untouchable for life
Yeah, yeah and you wasn't polite
It hit me like a tom
You hit me like a tom
On, on, and on
Ooh yeah
When I turn my feelings on
I turn my feelings on inside
Yeah, feel like I'm gonna ignite
I saw them stars go off
I saw them stars go off at night
Ooh yeah, and they're looking alright
Keep on blowin up
Keep on blowin em off
Get up roll it out
Keep on showin em out
Y'hit me like a tom
It hit me like a tom
On and on a tom
I turn my camera on
I cut my fingers on the way
On the way, on the way
I feel me slippin away
I wipe my feelings off
Y'made me untouchable for life
(Keep on rolling on)
Ooh yeah and you wasn't polite
Y'hit me like a tom
I don't know where it's from
It hit me like a tom-tom
Ooh yeah
Ooh yeah, I turned my camera on
Ooh yeah, I turned my camera on
Ooh yeah
Ooh yeah
I turned my camera on (hit me like a tom)
I turned my camera on (hit me like a tom)
I turned my camera on (hit me like a tom)
I turned my camera on
Feel this slip away
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
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,
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.
they've done it againn