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.
Here I go
Trying to write another chapter in my life
Driving down this lonely highway deep inside
And where I'm going I don't really know
But here I go
Trying hard not to leave too much life behind
Is there something out there that I'm trying to find
I believe in love
Believe in us
But there are days when it's not enough
I'm not gonna change who I am
But I ain't gonna give up the fight
I don't care who's wrong or right
When it's all said and done
And you tell me you've had enough
You're thinking of giving up on love
I'm still willing to try
Here I go
Step into this spotlight on the stage
Finally realizing that I've come of age
Running my own race down life's lonesome road
So here I go
We only get one life we got to live
Let's hope we find the strength just to forgive.
If you believe in me
Like I believe in us
There ain't no way we're giving up
I'm not gonna change who I am
But I ain't gonna give up the fight
I don't care who's wrong or right
When it's all said and done
And you tell me you've had enough
You're thinking of giving up on love
I'm willing to try
When you're all alone
Feeling so far from home
Just hold on
'Cause I'm willing to try
When you're crying deep inside
Holding on to your pride
Just hold on cause I'm willing to try
If you believe in love
Believe in us
Gotta find the faith
To never give up
I'm not gonna change who I am
I'm not gonna give up the fight
I don't care who's wrong or right
Baby when it's all said and done
And you tell me you've had enough
You're thinking of giving up on love
I'm not gonna change who I am
I ain't gonna give up the fight
I don't care who's wrong or right
Baby when it's all said and done
And you tell me you've had enough
You're thinking of giving up on love
I'm still willing to try
Oh oh willing to try
Trying to write another chapter in my life
Driving down this lonely highway deep inside
And where I'm going I don't really know
But here I go
Trying hard not to leave too much life behind
Is there something out there that I'm trying to find
I believe in love
Believe in us
But there are days when it's not enough
I'm not gonna change who I am
But I ain't gonna give up the fight
I don't care who's wrong or right
When it's all said and done
And you tell me you've had enough
You're thinking of giving up on love
I'm still willing to try
Here I go
Step into this spotlight on the stage
Finally realizing that I've come of age
Running my own race down life's lonesome road
So here I go
We only get one life we got to live
Let's hope we find the strength just to forgive.
If you believe in me
Like I believe in us
There ain't no way we're giving up
I'm not gonna change who I am
But I ain't gonna give up the fight
I don't care who's wrong or right
When it's all said and done
And you tell me you've had enough
You're thinking of giving up on love
I'm willing to try
When you're all alone
Feeling so far from home
Just hold on
'Cause I'm willing to try
When you're crying deep inside
Holding on to your pride
Just hold on cause I'm willing to try
If you believe in love
Believe in us
Gotta find the faith
To never give up
I'm not gonna change who I am
I'm not gonna give up the fight
I don't care who's wrong or right
Baby when it's all said and done
And you tell me you've had enough
You're thinking of giving up on love
I'm not gonna change who I am
I ain't gonna give up the fight
I don't care who's wrong or right
Baby when it's all said and done
And you tell me you've had enough
You're thinking of giving up on love
I'm still willing to try
Oh oh willing to try
Lyrics submitted by wicked_angel
Willing to Try Lyrics as written by Richie Sambora John Shanks
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"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."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.