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.
Baby, you got me all wrong
And maybe I'm not at all down and out
Well I'm high and I'm in
Don't you know who I am
I'm the jaded one with pop insensitivity
And when I finish struggling
We can make our way to the dance floor
And stand like strangers in an elevator
Stuck between stories
I always find myself
In the middle of your stories
With the camera as a witness I will suffer
With the camera as a witness I will suffer
If everything I do is wrong
Then by God I do it right
If everything I do is wrong
Then by God I do it right
If everything I do is wrong
Then by God I do it right
If everything I do is wrong
Then by God I do it right
We don't dance no, no, no
We got class
No we don't have any fun at all
It's a new style and we know it
We're not stunning, we're just stunned
We're lying for a living
We're lying for a living
Don't you know who I am
I'm the real thing with low-key sensibilities
I don't need what I've got
Half as much as everyone covets it
Well, if loving me is wrong
Then God damn you do it right
Well, if loving me is wrong
Then God damn you do it right
It turns us on, to turn you down
We're turned on, to turn you down
And maybe I'm not at all down and out
Well I'm high and I'm in
Don't you know who I am
I'm the jaded one with pop insensitivity
And when I finish struggling
We can make our way to the dance floor
And stand like strangers in an elevator
Stuck between stories
I always find myself
In the middle of your stories
With the camera as a witness I will suffer
With the camera as a witness I will suffer
If everything I do is wrong
Then by God I do it right
If everything I do is wrong
Then by God I do it right
If everything I do is wrong
Then by God I do it right
If everything I do is wrong
Then by God I do it right
We don't dance no, no, no
We got class
No we don't have any fun at all
It's a new style and we know it
We're not stunning, we're just stunned
We're lying for a living
We're lying for a living
Don't you know who I am
I'm the real thing with low-key sensibilities
I don't need what I've got
Half as much as everyone covets it
Well, if loving me is wrong
Then God damn you do it right
Well, if loving me is wrong
Then God damn you do it right
It turns us on, to turn you down
We're turned on, to turn you down
Lyrics submitted by MizunoPunk
The New Black Lyrics as written by Jordan Taylor Buckley Andrew John Williams
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
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Great version of a great song,
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Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
If it isn't already apparent, Keith is a satirical writer.
ill say that this is my opinionated interpretation.
Every line from this song is from a celebrity point-of-view in first person, showing their arrogance.
Ill do my best to explain it section by section:
"Baby, you got me all wrong And maybe I am not at all down and out I'm high and I'm in Don't you know who I am?"
The celebrity getting publicity for themself and being arrogant about how famous they are.
"I'm the jaded one with pop insensitivity When I finish struggling, we can make our way to the dance floor and stand like strangers in an elevator stuck between stories I always find myself in the middle of your stories With the cameras as a witness I will suffer"
Celebrities have problems but no problems with being popular. Then it shows that their problems arent really that big because they can waste time clubbing, partying...then boasting about being in news and being loved by fans. Then showing how they do bad things and get caught."
"if everything I do is wrong, then by God I'll do it right"
but it doesnt matter that they were caught, saying the celebrity will clean up their act, and we give them another chance.
"We don't dance no no no We got class No we don't have any fun at all It's the new style and we know it"
Trying to hide their ways. this is very Sarcastic. its obvious they have fun, there is no way to hide it.
"We're not stunning, we're just stunned and we're lying for a living"
there is nothing special about them, they just are made out to seem that way. and what we know of them isn't really them.
"Don't you know who I am? I'm the real thing with the low-key sensibilities I don't need what I've got half as much as everyone covets it"
They aren't smart with their actions. They live overly abundant lives. and everyone wants to be like them.
"If loving me is wrong, then god damn you do it right"
people say that celebrities are bad role models, but still worship them by keeping them famous, even for their negative actions.
"It turns us on to turn you down"
to me this is the only toss up about meaning. My thoughts are that that is the celebrity being happy about not being close to their fans.
Keith Buckley is a Genius.