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.
When I was a young boy I was honest and I had more self-
Control if I was tempted I would run
Then when I got older I began to lie to get exactly
What I wanted when I wanted it
And I wanted it
Now I'm having trouble differentiating between what I
Want and what I need to make me happy,
So instead of thinking, I just act before I have a chance to
Contemplate the consequence of action
And I will turn off
And I will shut down
Burying the voices of my conscience hitting ground
And I will turn off
And I will shut down
The chemicals are restless in my head
Cause I lie
Not because I want to
But I seem to need to all the time
Yeah, I lie
And I don't even know it
Maybe this all a part of my
Flawed design
And ever since I figured out that I could control other people
I've had trouble sleeping with both eyes closed
And if I ask permission, if I make sure it's okay,
I promise I won't slip up this time, you can trust me
But never take advice from someone who just admitted to being devious, who just confessed to treason
And I would ask you never a question that I cannot ask myself
For it might dirty up your conscience
Cause I lie
Not because I want to
But I seem to need to all the time
Yeah, I lie
And I don't even know it
Maybe this all a part of my
How can you say those things? Why can't you just believe?
How can you say those things and keep a straight face?
How can you say those things? Why can't we just believe?
How can you say those things and keep a straight face?
And I will turn off
And I will shut down
Burying the voices of my conscience hitting ground
And I will turn off
And I will shut down
The chemicals are restless in my head
Cause I lie
Not because I want to
But I seem to need to all the time
Yeah, I lie
And I don't even know it
Maybe this all a part of my
Cause I lie
And if I could control it
Maybe I could leave it all behind
Yeah, I lie
And I don't even know it
Maybe this is all a part of my
Flawed design
Control if I was tempted I would run
Then when I got older I began to lie to get exactly
What I wanted when I wanted it
And I wanted it
Now I'm having trouble differentiating between what I
Want and what I need to make me happy,
So instead of thinking, I just act before I have a chance to
Contemplate the consequence of action
And I will turn off
And I will shut down
Burying the voices of my conscience hitting ground
And I will turn off
And I will shut down
The chemicals are restless in my head
Cause I lie
Not because I want to
But I seem to need to all the time
Yeah, I lie
And I don't even know it
Maybe this all a part of my
Flawed design
And ever since I figured out that I could control other people
I've had trouble sleeping with both eyes closed
And if I ask permission, if I make sure it's okay,
I promise I won't slip up this time, you can trust me
But never take advice from someone who just admitted to being devious, who just confessed to treason
And I would ask you never a question that I cannot ask myself
For it might dirty up your conscience
Cause I lie
Not because I want to
But I seem to need to all the time
Yeah, I lie
And I don't even know it
Maybe this all a part of my
How can you say those things? Why can't you just believe?
How can you say those things and keep a straight face?
How can you say those things? Why can't we just believe?
How can you say those things and keep a straight face?
And I will turn off
And I will shut down
Burying the voices of my conscience hitting ground
And I will turn off
And I will shut down
The chemicals are restless in my head
Cause I lie
Not because I want to
But I seem to need to all the time
Yeah, I lie
And I don't even know it
Maybe this all a part of my
Cause I lie
And if I could control it
Maybe I could leave it all behind
Yeah, I lie
And I don't even know it
Maybe this is all a part of my
Flawed design
Lyrics submitted by yakasushii
Flawed Design Lyrics as written by Christopher John Moerman Chris Moerman
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Many of you make very good interpretations, but here's another one: Sociopath.
It's often thought a sociopath is not aware of their disorder or how their actions hurt others, but this is not exactly true. To me, the song sounds like a sociopath realizing/explaining how their life has gone so far. "Flawed design" and the "chemicals" would thus point to the theory that there is something fundamentally wrong with people like that, that can not be changed.
Even though the character briefly acknowledges that there are negative consequences for his actions, he once again returns to "I lie..Not because I want to, but I seem to need to". He does not feel guilty, because whenever he is faced with his problem, he WILL shut down. Note that he is using definite words (I am, I will, it is) when talking about his condition.
"Trouble sleeping with both eyes closed", to me, is not a sign of remorse either. Once a sociopath gets active ("I realized I could control other people", he will crave more and more control over his surroundings. He keeps "one eye open", making sure he has control over everything his victim does.
The "how can you say those things" part is obviously someone else talking. Perhaps it's us, the "unflawed", having learned of his true nature, shocked at how he is able to do it. At the same time he is having a hard time keeping a straight face. He can't help but enjoy it. He even shows us how easily he traps us: "And if I ask permission, if I make sure it's ok, I promise I won't slip up this time, you can trust me." So we trust him. He promised. But then he says: "But never take advice from someone who just admitted to being devious and just confessed to treason." in other words: "see what I did there? it's that easy." in the last part of the verse he reminds us that we are not so unlike him. Everybody lies, so how can we expect more of him? Also he reminds us that if we judge him for being a user, then we have to judge ourselves for being so gullible.
it's probably obvious that I'm a person who has been targeted by such a "devious" person. It's amazing what these people are capable of. While knowing exactly what they are doing.
Seriously, I couldn't agree more.