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.
Hey yo nephew check this out man
Now I know you got that bad chick right there
You ain't even tripping off of her
But she doing all of that for you
She got this, she got that
She's off the hizzle
I mean when you find one like that
You got to make that change man
'Cause they don't come too often
And when they do come
You gotta be smart enough to know when to change
Like Sam Cooke say "change gon' come nephew"
And you better believe that
'Cause I look back on all that I've done to you
My biggest regrets
The things that I never could do
I see the light now baby it's shining through
Gotta give up the game
Yeah I got some changin' to do
I won't get high if you want it
Get that straight
Nine to five if you want it
Keep my ass home at night if you want it
Whatever you need me to do
When you talk I'ma listen
Give you all that attention you missing
Girl I swear I'ma handle my business
Just like a real man should do
(I can change)
(I can change) you know I can change baby
(I can change)
(For you) you know I can stop baby
(I can change) you know I change baby
(I can change)
(I can change)
(For you) said, you know I can stop baby
Yes, I'll give up all the places I used to go
Stay out the club
Stay home because I'm with you
I'll give up all those girls that I used to know
They don't compare
Baby I swear it's the truth (you know it's the truth baby)
So I'm through with the women
Yeah that's right
I give up on the pimpin'
Girl I'm gonna repent from my sinnin'
If that's what you want me to do
I'll get right if you want it
Go to church
Get baptized if you want it
Girl you opened my eyes and I'm gonna
Be much better for you
(Baby believe me, baby believe me)
(I can change) you know I can change baby
(I can change) know I can change baby
(I can change for you)
(I can change)
(I can change)
(I can change for you)
Take me to the river
And baptize my soul
I'm so outta control
Needing someone to hold
Man it's cold
I ain't been clubbin', drinkin', or smokin'
I'm focused bowin' down every night prayin' and hopin'
I'm trying to figure out a way
But I just don't know how to say
But I'm rearrangin'
Hopefully I'm changin'
And you can see that
Baby 'cause it's hard for me
Kinda sorta odd for me
But ain't nothing to it
If you need me to do it
I guess'
(I can change)
(I can change)
(I can change for you)
(I can change)
(I can change)
(I can change for you)
(I can change)
(I can change)
(I can change for you)
(I can change)
(I can change)
(I can change for you)
You know I can stop baby
(You gotta believe me) gotta believe me baby
You gotta believe me baby (gotta believe me)
I'm telling the truth
(You gotta believe me) believe me
(You gotta believe me) believe me
(I'm telling the truth)
This time I mean it
(Gotta believe me) this time I mean it
(Gotta believe me)
I'm telling the truth
Gotta believe me, you gotta believe me
Now I know you got that bad chick right there
You ain't even tripping off of her
But she doing all of that for you
She got this, she got that
She's off the hizzle
I mean when you find one like that
You got to make that change man
'Cause they don't come too often
And when they do come
You gotta be smart enough to know when to change
Like Sam Cooke say "change gon' come nephew"
And you better believe that
'Cause I look back on all that I've done to you
My biggest regrets
The things that I never could do
I see the light now baby it's shining through
Gotta give up the game
Yeah I got some changin' to do
I won't get high if you want it
Get that straight
Nine to five if you want it
Keep my ass home at night if you want it
Whatever you need me to do
When you talk I'ma listen
Give you all that attention you missing
Girl I swear I'ma handle my business
Just like a real man should do
(I can change)
(I can change) you know I can change baby
(I can change)
(For you) you know I can stop baby
(I can change) you know I change baby
(I can change)
(I can change)
(For you) said, you know I can stop baby
Yes, I'll give up all the places I used to go
Stay out the club
Stay home because I'm with you
I'll give up all those girls that I used to know
They don't compare
Baby I swear it's the truth (you know it's the truth baby)
So I'm through with the women
Yeah that's right
I give up on the pimpin'
Girl I'm gonna repent from my sinnin'
If that's what you want me to do
I'll get right if you want it
Go to church
Get baptized if you want it
Girl you opened my eyes and I'm gonna
Be much better for you
(Baby believe me, baby believe me)
(I can change) you know I can change baby
(I can change) know I can change baby
(I can change for you)
(I can change)
(I can change)
(I can change for you)
Take me to the river
And baptize my soul
I'm so outta control
Needing someone to hold
Man it's cold
I ain't been clubbin', drinkin', or smokin'
I'm focused bowin' down every night prayin' and hopin'
I'm trying to figure out a way
But I just don't know how to say
But I'm rearrangin'
Hopefully I'm changin'
And you can see that
Baby 'cause it's hard for me
Kinda sorta odd for me
But ain't nothing to it
If you need me to do it
I guess'
(I can change)
(I can change)
(I can change for you)
(I can change)
(I can change)
(I can change for you)
(I can change)
(I can change)
(I can change for you)
(I can change)
(I can change)
(I can change for you)
You know I can stop baby
(You gotta believe me) gotta believe me baby
You gotta believe me baby (gotta believe me)
I'm telling the truth
(You gotta believe me) believe me
(You gotta believe me) believe me
(I'm telling the truth)
This time I mean it
(Gotta believe me) this time I mean it
(Gotta believe me)
I'm telling the truth
Gotta believe me, you gotta believe me
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