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've been a bad girl
I ain't playin' fair
I want you to be free
But I don't wanna share
No I don't wanna let ya go
But it's about time I do
I can't blame ya anymore
And I still love you
Wah wah wah-wah wah wah wah-wah wah
Wah wah wah-wah wah wah wah-wah wah
I know it ain't easy
Being left on your own
Why did you leave me
Well I don't really know
And why wait another day
When a day won't change a thing
Please don't ever let me say
That again
Wah wah wah-wah wah wah wah-wah wah
Wah wah wah-wah wah wah wah-wah wah
Mama I ain't waiting
I ain't waiting
But I'm still holding on
I ain't playin' fair
I want you to be free
But I don't wanna share
No I don't wanna let ya go
But it's about time I do
I can't blame ya anymore
And I still love you
Wah wah wah-wah wah wah wah-wah wah
Wah wah wah-wah wah wah wah-wah wah
I know it ain't easy
Being left on your own
Why did you leave me
Well I don't really know
And why wait another day
When a day won't change a thing
Please don't ever let me say
That again
Wah wah wah-wah wah wah wah-wah wah
Wah wah wah-wah wah wah wah-wah wah
Mama I ain't waiting
I ain't waiting
But I'm still holding on
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ahhh absolutly amazing. it breaks my heart when he says "and why wait another day when a day won't change a thing please don't ever let me say that again"
I think this song might also be about being in love with someone you can't have and letting them go. "no I don't wanna let ya go. but it's about time I do. I can't blame you anymore, still I love you"
"Mama I ain't waiting I ain't waiting but I'm still holding on"
Perfect irony of lost/unrequited love.
is this song about bianca cassidy? it's beautiful, and it has some of the most passionate singing i've heard from devendra!
i love this song. sort of like, if you love someone, you have to let them go. this song makes me cry.
Is it just me or does the 'wah wah' section sound almost mocking? Kinda like 'yeah blah blah blah'. I picture accompanying talking-hand gestures. My feeling, when listening, is of sympathy for the couple but also of having to step back and say 'yeah but get over it, everyone goes through this'. I dunno, those sections always grate with me, and I can't quite figure out what he means by having them there. The change in the music style also feels like a snap-out-of-it kind of thing.
Favourite line: 'Why did you leave me?' What he does with his voice there is so perfect, so full of pathos.
Powerful ending.
I think the wah wah wah signifies the feeling of why the hell am I crying about this, I knew it was coming. So in a way mocking, but mocking because it was known all along this love would never last.
this song is so captivating in every aspect. acknowledging how pathetic one is when one loves another. an apparent vulnerability with the whispering tone one will confess in.
i really love this song and i feel like i can relate to it a lot lately...
here's my interpretation
Verse one: she knows its time to let him go becuase its just that time in their lives, each needs to move on but she is having a hard time letting go, there is no reason to blame him but she still feels hurt because she loves him and how could she not feel hurt its the most natural reaction
Verse two: its a mutual breakup - shes saying both were left, its not easy for him or her, sometimes she doesnt know why its over because of romantic love, but practically she knows why, - now is when she gets into waiting for him - she waited for him to come around and for their to a fairytale ending (like he wouldnt need to move on and could be with her even tho it was not probable or even possible), when she says please don't ever let me say that again i dont think it is out of shame, but because she knows she needs to move on and not wait another day - one needs to make an action, either she moves on or he doesnt (in her eyes)
Verse three: she continues to comment on waiting, she isnt waiting for him because she knows nothing will come of it, but she really really hopes something will
im probably reading too much into it, prob so that it relates to me
I think this song was modeled around "Dont Let Me Down" by the Beatles.
this song is nothing short of beautiful.