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.
A slap in the face,
And I can't erase,
These things that you say,
Don't make it all okay, it's not okay
When push comes to shove,
I'll put on the gloves,
Intentions are cruel,
I ain't nobody's fool you know
It hurts, my pride, step aside,
'Cause I don't need your...
Sympathy
Won't get the best of me!
Misery
That's what you're giving me!
Sympathy
It's just like trickery!
Breaking me down
A fistful of lies,
Dressed up in disguise,
And make no mistake,
I know they're all so fake, they're all so fake
My self-righteous friend,
I just can't pretend,
Your words are the truth,
Sincere only when they suit you
It hurts, my pride, step aside,
'Cause I don't need your...
Sympathy!
Won't get the best of me
Misery!
That's what your giving me
Sympathy!
It's just like trickery
Breaking me down
Sympathy
Won't get the best of me!
Misery
This shit is killing me!
Sympathy
It's just like trickery!
Breaking me down
Breaking me down
And I can't erase,
These things that you say,
Don't make it all okay, it's not okay
When push comes to shove,
I'll put on the gloves,
Intentions are cruel,
I ain't nobody's fool you know
It hurts, my pride, step aside,
'Cause I don't need your...
Sympathy
Won't get the best of me!
Misery
That's what you're giving me!
Sympathy
It's just like trickery!
Breaking me down
A fistful of lies,
Dressed up in disguise,
And make no mistake,
I know they're all so fake, they're all so fake
My self-righteous friend,
I just can't pretend,
Your words are the truth,
Sincere only when they suit you
It hurts, my pride, step aside,
'Cause I don't need your...
Sympathy!
Won't get the best of me
Misery!
That's what your giving me
Sympathy!
It's just like trickery
Breaking me down
Sympathy
Won't get the best of me!
Misery
This shit is killing me!
Sympathy
It's just like trickery!
Breaking me down
Breaking me down
Lyrics submitted by Moriquendi
Sympathy Lyrics as written by Ben Kowalewicz Aaron Solowoniuk
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I agree with Fallen Leaves on this one. When i first heard the song, my first thoughts were about Aaron and his MS. "I dont need sympathy, if you feel sorry for me then it makes me feel bad. I just want to get on with life and not have people feeling sorry for me because of this" Thats one way i see it.
actually, i can see the song in all the ways mentioned above.
I think Bt wrote it about sympathy in general. not any one reason for sympathy like break ups. Just generally how you feel about sympathy when people give it to you, fake or not.
"A slap in the face, And I can’t erase, These things that you say, Don’t make it all okay, it’s not okay" ((I know your trying to make me feel better but it's not working, its making me feel worse.))
"When push comes to shove, I’ll put on the gloves, Intentions are cruel, I ain’t nobody’s fool you know" ((stop it. i cant take your sympathy anymore, if you keep it up, i'll snap and get angry.))
It hurts, my pride, step aside, ‘Cause I don’t need your… ((again, stop, it justmakes me feel worse.))
Sympathy Won’t get the best of me! Misery That’s what you’re giving me! Sympathy It’s just like trickery! Breaking me down ((I know that its meant to be making me feel better, but its not, its tricking you into thinking that your doing good, but your just making it worse))
A fistful of lies, Dressed up in disguise, And make no mistake, I know they’re all so fake, they’re all so fake My self-righteous friend, I just can’t pretend, Your words are the truth, Sincere only when they suit you ((You dont really mean what you're saying, you're just saying it to make yourself feel like your helping. You don't really care aslong as i dont annoy you anymore with whatevers wrong with me.))
Sympathy Won’t get the best of me! Misery This shit is killing me! Sympathy It’s just like trickery! Breaking me down Breaking me down ((I can't take it anymore, stop giving me your fake sympathy, it's killing me inside))
If you just read the lyrics and think, you can easily see what its about.