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.
To answer a question
It'll probably take more
If you're already there
Well, then you probably don't know
Well, we were the people
That we wanted to know
And we're the places that we wanted to go
It's hard to get hold of
And hard to let go
Always something we look for
From the day we were born
Instead, we're the people that we wanted to know
And we're the places that we wanted to go
Yeah, we're the places that we wanted to go
We're the places that we wanted to go
Always asking a question
And I don't want to know
Like the wind across strings
That had finally let go
And the people you love
But you didn't quite know
They're the places that you wanted to go
Bark at the neighbor's
And then bark at the dog
Sniffing the wind
Whimpering for someone to know
But we were the people that we wanted to know
And we're the places that we wanted go
Yeah, we're the places that we wanted to go
Yeah, we're the places that we wanted to go
It was not the intention
But we let it all go
Well, it messed up the function
And sure fucked up the flow
I hardly have people that I needed to know
'Cause you're the people that I wanted to know
All this scrambling around
Hunting high and then low
Looking for the face love
Or somewhere to go
I hardly have places that I need to go
'Cause you're the places that I wanted to go
Yeah, you're the places that we wanted to go
Yeah, you're the places that we wanted to go
You're the people that we wanted to know
Shouldn't have to ask
You shouldn't have to ask
'Cause we are your real place
It'll probably take more
If you're already there
Well, then you probably don't know
Well, we were the people
That we wanted to know
And we're the places that we wanted to go
It's hard to get hold of
And hard to let go
Always something we look for
From the day we were born
Instead, we're the people that we wanted to know
And we're the places that we wanted to go
Yeah, we're the places that we wanted to go
We're the places that we wanted to go
Always asking a question
And I don't want to know
Like the wind across strings
That had finally let go
And the people you love
But you didn't quite know
They're the places that you wanted to go
Bark at the neighbor's
And then bark at the dog
Sniffing the wind
Whimpering for someone to know
But we were the people that we wanted to know
And we're the places that we wanted go
Yeah, we're the places that we wanted to go
Yeah, we're the places that we wanted to go
It was not the intention
But we let it all go
Well, it messed up the function
And sure fucked up the flow
I hardly have people that I needed to know
'Cause you're the people that I wanted to know
All this scrambling around
Hunting high and then low
Looking for the face love
Or somewhere to go
I hardly have places that I need to go
'Cause you're the places that I wanted to go
Yeah, you're the places that we wanted to go
Yeah, you're the places that we wanted to go
You're the people that we wanted to know
Shouldn't have to ask
You shouldn't have to ask
'Cause we are your real place
Lyrics submitted by SparklingLemonade, edited by spacebat11
People as Places as People Lyrics as written by Isaac Brock Eric Judy
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, SCHUBERT MUSIC PUBLISHING INC.
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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
"well we were the people that we wanted to know and we'ere the places that we wanted to go" thats at the beginning of the song when i think theyre together and happy and stuff or whatever and hwo theyre talkign about they really dont need anything else but eachother."Bark at the neighbors And then bark at the door Snifflin' and wimperin' For someone to know But we were the people that we wanted to know"thats after the breakup i think and how hes expressing his anger in different ways and how hes depressed and stuff. "it was not the intention but we let it all go well it messed up the fucntion and sure fucked up the flow" thats still after it too liek it wasnt intended it seems liek hes saying he didnt want ti and stuff and they let their relationship go and how it messed up basically his life.."all this scramblin round huntin high and low lookin for a fave,love or somehwre to go i hardly have places that i need to go cause your the places that i wanted to go..thinkign about that,hes trying to get oevr her and stuff or him lol im really not sure idk fi the dudes gay or nto haha but it doesnt matter hes trying to get over the person eh loved and in every verse he says your the people that i wanted to know or your the places that we wanted to go,meaning he still loves her and he never wanted it to end, and at the end in the whispering in some versions it sounds like he says hes an anal bastard lol as funny as it sounds but i was on soem lyric sites and thats what it says but if it does say that then he did somethign wrong to end the relationship relating back to "it was not the intention btu we let it all go"