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 woke up this afternoon
I knew I felt uneasy.
But no matter what I'd do
Nothing seemed to please me.
I couldn't get out of my head
That little fight we had last night.
Though I would much rather be dead
Than admit to myself
That you were right.
Oh, oh, oh, oh
[Chorus]
Don't be silly,
Turn on Billie.
She's singing us to sleep
So we can dream our lives away.
And if we wake up in full makeup,
We'll paint the town blue
'cause baby, red is so passe.
Now don't look at me that way.
You know I just can't take it.
And no matter what they say
I know that we will make it.
Cause when we are good, we're grand
But when we're bad we are very bad.
But I stick around 'cause the love
That you're giving me is the best
I've ever had.
Oh, oh, oh, oh
[Chorus]
And it's funny to me,
The way that things have worked out.
There's no doubt (in my mind)
That you can't recall
What this all was about.
So let's give it up.
Love me sweetly and completely
Come and sit beside me
'Cause you know I need you near.
When you're wheelin'
With that feelin'
We'll paint the town pink
'Cause baby, red is so last year.
[Chorus]
I knew I felt uneasy.
But no matter what I'd do
Nothing seemed to please me.
I couldn't get out of my head
That little fight we had last night.
Though I would much rather be dead
Than admit to myself
That you were right.
Oh, oh, oh, oh
[Chorus]
Don't be silly,
Turn on Billie.
She's singing us to sleep
So we can dream our lives away.
And if we wake up in full makeup,
We'll paint the town blue
'cause baby, red is so passe.
Now don't look at me that way.
You know I just can't take it.
And no matter what they say
I know that we will make it.
Cause when we are good, we're grand
But when we're bad we are very bad.
But I stick around 'cause the love
That you're giving me is the best
I've ever had.
Oh, oh, oh, oh
[Chorus]
And it's funny to me,
The way that things have worked out.
There's no doubt (in my mind)
That you can't recall
What this all was about.
So let's give it up.
Love me sweetly and completely
Come and sit beside me
'Cause you know I need you near.
When you're wheelin'
With that feelin'
We'll paint the town pink
'Cause baby, red is so last year.
[Chorus]
Lyrics submitted by madam mayhem
Turn on Billie Lyrics as written by Catherine Eleanor Pierce Allison Margaret Pierce
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song in my opinion... is about being in a relationship with someone, this person knows they're wrong often times while the other person is right but at the same time they work so very well together that it's worth the fight. No matter who's telling them they can do better than each other. Basically the narrative is saying we can work through this, we'll get by, let's do something others just don't have the guts for.
Or maybeee... Billie wants to drop the narrative and this person believes that they're meant to be while Billie keeps questioning everything. Allowing the narrative to whisper in their ear while they get that feeling again? It's time to go out and prove what it's all about.