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.
I never knew perfection till
I heard you speak, and now it kills me
Just to hear you say the simple things
Now waking up is hard to do
And sleeping's impossible, too
Everything is reminding me of you
What can I do?
It's not right, not okay
Say the word that you say
Maybe we're better off this way
I'm not fine, I'm in pain
It's harder everyday
Maybe we're better off this way
It's better that we break
A fool to let you slip away
I chase you just to hear you say
You're scared and that you think that I'm insane
The city looks so nice from here
Pity, I can't see it clearly
While you're standing there, it disappears
It disappears
It's not right, not okay
Say the word that you say
Maybe we're better off this way
I'm not fine, I'm in pain
It's harder everyday
Maybe we're better off this way
It's better that we break
Saw you sitting all alone
You're fragile, and you're cold
But that's all right
Life these days is getting rough
They've knocked you down and beat you up
But it's just a roller coaster anyway, yeah
It's not right, not okay
Say the word that you say
Maybe we're better off this way
I'm not fine, I'm in pain
It's harder everyday
Maybe we're better off this way
I'm not fine, not okay
Say the word that you say
Maybe we're better off this way
I'm not fine, and I'm in pain
It's harder everyday
Maybe we're better off this way
It's better that we break, baby
I heard you speak, and now it kills me
Just to hear you say the simple things
Now waking up is hard to do
And sleeping's impossible, too
Everything is reminding me of you
What can I do?
It's not right, not okay
Say the word that you say
Maybe we're better off this way
I'm not fine, I'm in pain
It's harder everyday
Maybe we're better off this way
It's better that we break
A fool to let you slip away
I chase you just to hear you say
You're scared and that you think that I'm insane
The city looks so nice from here
Pity, I can't see it clearly
While you're standing there, it disappears
It disappears
It's not right, not okay
Say the word that you say
Maybe we're better off this way
I'm not fine, I'm in pain
It's harder everyday
Maybe we're better off this way
It's better that we break
Saw you sitting all alone
You're fragile, and you're cold
But that's all right
Life these days is getting rough
They've knocked you down and beat you up
But it's just a roller coaster anyway, yeah
It's not right, not okay
Say the word that you say
Maybe we're better off this way
I'm not fine, I'm in pain
It's harder everyday
Maybe we're better off this way
I'm not fine, not okay
Say the word that you say
Maybe we're better off this way
I'm not fine, and I'm in pain
It's harder everyday
Maybe we're better off this way
It's better that we break, baby
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What does this song mean to you?
Everything.
Love this song. One of the few good songs on their new album. sadly.
The city looks so nice from here Pity I can’t see it clearly While you’re standing there, it disappears
^^i love that. phenomenal lyrics.
Awesome song... I think it's about a guy who loves his girlfriend more than she loves him. And when they break up he is so sad about it but knows he has to let her go, and loves her enough to let her go if it will make her happy, even if it breaks his own heart.
BEAUTIFUL song.... so sad though. It displays perfectly how it feels to be on the brink of a break-up. You KNOW that you're better off without them, but the thought of life without them still hurts like hell.
adam truly captures the sadness of this song with his voice. the lyrics are so beautiful...breaking up is hard, and although he says its better that they break, he doesn't mean it.
It's pretty self explanatory. It's better that we break. It hurts and he misses her but he's trying to accept that it's for the best. He wants her back and goes to her only to find that it's too late to fix "she's scared and thinks I'm insane."
My favorite song so far on the album. :)
aghh i love this song! to me, its about a bittersweet break up, someone wanting to help their lover, but they cant....they're like "it's not right, not ok" but then "life...knocks you down and beats you up but it's just a roller coaster anyway', hoping that she'll be able to manage by herself because things naturally will get better. sort of reminds me of "she will b e loved" a little...no?
I can't stop listening to this song. It's on its way to becoming my favorite Maroon 5 ballad.