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.
Dead weight on velveteen
It's retained emptiness
It's not what it seems
Uncover the mystery
Tell everyone what you see
It's not what it seems
Vulgar when brought to light
Betray the image
There's nothing between the sheets
It's not what it seems
But dead weight on velveteen
Vulgar when brought to light
Vulgar the lie
It's retained emptiness
It's not what it seems
Uncover the mystery
Tell everyone what you see
It's not what it seems
Vulgar when brought to light
Betray the image
There's nothing between the sheets
It's not what it seems
But dead weight on velveteen
Vulgar when brought to light
Vulgar the lie
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I always assumed that this was a song about a relationship that was okay in every aspect, except the bedroom. “Deadweight on velveteen” – they’re just deadweights on velveteen sheets. They can’t perform for each other. ”It's retained emptiness” – their sex life is empty. "It's not what it seems" – they seem to have a “perfect” relationship, but they don’t. “Uncover the mystery” – the start of them trying to figure out what’s wrong between them. ”Tell everyone what you see” – But when the couple try to discuss it with anyone else, it's vulgar ("Vulgar, when brought to light"). "Betray the image" – through their “lack of action” (as it were), they’re betraying the image of the perfect relationship they project to everyone else. “There’s nothing between the sheets”– neither can carry out the traditional tasks expected of a man and woman. Thus, they are deadweights. “Vulgar, when brought to light” – they can’t discuss it with their friends, and can no longer discuss it with each other. “Vulgar, the lie” – but, just as vulgar, is the pretence that everything’s okay with them.
Anyway, that’s just what I assumed.
@Tessie Perfect
this song is brill, so simple. im not totally sure wot its about. something being covered up, something thats not good "vulgar when brought to light". but im not 100% on its meaning. wot do u think?
i think it's about the real person you only discover after time inside yourself. i love it this song.
I think this is one of my favourite songs on his album, its absolutely amazing! Struggling to find the 100% meaning of it though, but i really dig the way he gets the message of something sinister and dark across through his voice and guitar... it leaves you wondering about the world and all the dark things out there, what people are trying to hide from you etc. Its weird.. difficult to place meaning. but still, goes right to my heart that song. any ideas?? would love to hear more comments.
oh my gosh! i think i just figured out what it means, after i read the lyrics again, the clue is in the last lines 'vulgar the lie' He's talking about a lie! and it makes so much sense now...'its not what it seems' (a lie is not what it seems cos its a lie...) and its vulgar when brought to light...a lie is vulgar when you figure out someone is lying to you... hey what do you say about that?
Its a song about a meaningless relationship. The couple are a dead weight on velveteen sheets - what they have is a lie. Beautiful song.
i thought maybe it was an image of finding the you inside yourself, but realising that person is not who you thought it was - it's a 'deadweight on velveteen' in that it's a deadweight on us; that the real 'us' is not someone we like...
maybe it's about the relationship as well, in that the couple realise they are both hollow and shallow on the inside, and still they keep coexisting, despite the fact that their relationship is 'Vulgar', because they're so beaten down by the fact that they're not who they thought they were. What a brilliant song!
I always thought that this song was about an affair.
I think its about the materialism of society and how lame and fake everything is.
I absolutely love this song. To me, it's about, like, a lie about a relationship. The singer has been/ is in a relationship with someone, but there is no longer any real feelings and it's all a bit forced. Then he says "Uncover the mystery Tell everyone what you see" And to me that's like he doesn't actually want to say anything to anyone else about this 'untrue' relationship, but he does want people to know. So he's urging the listener - maybe his friend, maybe family - to discover the truth, then to "tell everyone what you see." The line "It's not what it seems" further highlights this I think. "Vulgar when brought to light" I think means a few things. So first of all, it's an ugly thing that you wouldn't really expect. But also "when brought to light" highlights the fact that it has been kept in the dark - in the dark; in a bedroom. I think this hints to a failing sex life and to bring it to the light (aka to turn on the light, open the curtains and windows and let some air in) and allow other people to see makes it this horrible and "vulgar" thing. And finally I think that " deadweight on velveteen" symbolises that whilst the couple may have a seemingly perfect relationship in relative luxury compared to most, they don't feel the same way for each other and therefore need it to end. But that's just my thoughts.