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.
you should see yourself
when will you grow up
every knob you twist on that machine is like a crutch
but i was just the fool
you’d been waiting for
who says we can’t touch
ourselves to keep from getting bored?
nothing else is touching thats for sure
a ring around the roses
i will watch you play
i come here every night
it’s just me the bartender the waitress and the lights
shining on you not getting it right
we clap not for you but for your kind
a ring around the roses
everybody poses
threats and then backs down
the second you put clothes on
a ring around the roses
eveybody knows it
i will sing your fears if
you sing my neurosis
you should back out now
not a night too soon
i’ll still be here when the last poor soul has left the room
standing round just like a good friend should
smiling as if your songs were good
a ring around the roses
everybody poses
threats and then backs down
the second you put clothes on
a ring around the roses
everybody knows it
i will sing your fears if
you sing my neurosis
and i sat there for hours
waiting on the curb
thinking you might like a flower from a pretty girl
a ring around the waitress from the verse
a ring of fire around the roses’ door
put it on before you lose your nerve
put your hands together and they’ll hurt(x5)
make a sound that no one’s ever heard(x2)
and i hope we get what we deserve
when will you grow up
every knob you twist on that machine is like a crutch
but i was just the fool
you’d been waiting for
who says we can’t touch
ourselves to keep from getting bored?
nothing else is touching thats for sure
a ring around the roses
i will watch you play
i come here every night
it’s just me the bartender the waitress and the lights
shining on you not getting it right
we clap not for you but for your kind
a ring around the roses
everybody poses
threats and then backs down
the second you put clothes on
a ring around the roses
eveybody knows it
i will sing your fears if
you sing my neurosis
you should back out now
not a night too soon
i’ll still be here when the last poor soul has left the room
standing round just like a good friend should
smiling as if your songs were good
a ring around the roses
everybody poses
threats and then backs down
the second you put clothes on
a ring around the roses
everybody knows it
i will sing your fears if
you sing my neurosis
and i sat there for hours
waiting on the curb
thinking you might like a flower from a pretty girl
a ring around the waitress from the verse
a ring of fire around the roses’ door
put it on before you lose your nerve
put your hands together and they’ll hurt(x5)
make a sound that no one’s ever heard(x2)
and i hope we get what we deserve
Lyrics submitted by eener88
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I always took it to be about virginity. Call me crazy. I do think "the roses" is a club and the speaker in the song, not necessarily Amanda, lost her virginity to the a member of the band. A ring around the roses i think also refers to condoms... and its a play on rings as in commitment and sex.
"everybody poses threats and then backs down the second you put clothes on" Everyone is all about being with you...until your clothes are on...
Also i think the "that you might like a flower from a pretty girl" bit is in relation again to virginity since a girls virginity is often referred to as a flower. Maybe I'm reading to much into it though. Again to the condom reference... "put it on before you lose your nerve..."
just a guess though...