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.
So let me get this story straight
This was just a chance you had to take
Did I even cross your mind?
This will be the last time you cross mine
We were as thick as thieves
Just like a thief you stole the best of me
White lies and what lies in between
Whoa, for Heaven's sake I see right through you
Whoa, I've got secrets too
You're the gun and I can be your bullet you bite down on
Take your best shot 'cause you only get one
Marionette
(Are your strings tied tight for proper movement?)
Take a deep, deep breath
(I'm dying just to wrap these strings around your neck)
But I'll stitch my eyes wide open
'Cause I don't want to miss the look on your face
When I drive away
You know you're sharp
But sharp just doesn't cut it anymore
I'll show you a side of me you've never seen before
Whoa, for Heaven's sake I see right through you
Whoa, I've got secrets too
You're the gun and I can be your bullet you bite down on
Take your best shot 'cause you only get one
Well blame it all on bottoms up
And all the boys that kept filling your cup
I love the way you say
You don't remember anything
Whoa, for Heaven's sake I see right through you
Whoa, I've got secrets too
You're the gun and I can be your bullet you bite down on
Take your best shot 'cause you only get one
Whoa, for Heaven's sake I see right through you
Whoa, I've got secrets too
You're the gun and I can be your bullet you bite down on
Take your best shot 'cause you only get one
This was just a chance you had to take
Did I even cross your mind?
This will be the last time you cross mine
We were as thick as thieves
Just like a thief you stole the best of me
White lies and what lies in between
Whoa, for Heaven's sake I see right through you
Whoa, I've got secrets too
You're the gun and I can be your bullet you bite down on
Take your best shot 'cause you only get one
Marionette
(Are your strings tied tight for proper movement?)
Take a deep, deep breath
(I'm dying just to wrap these strings around your neck)
But I'll stitch my eyes wide open
'Cause I don't want to miss the look on your face
When I drive away
You know you're sharp
But sharp just doesn't cut it anymore
I'll show you a side of me you've never seen before
Whoa, for Heaven's sake I see right through you
Whoa, I've got secrets too
You're the gun and I can be your bullet you bite down on
Take your best shot 'cause you only get one
Well blame it all on bottoms up
And all the boys that kept filling your cup
I love the way you say
You don't remember anything
Whoa, for Heaven's sake I see right through you
Whoa, I've got secrets too
You're the gun and I can be your bullet you bite down on
Take your best shot 'cause you only get one
Whoa, for Heaven's sake I see right through you
Whoa, I've got secrets too
You're the gun and I can be your bullet you bite down on
Take your best shot 'cause you only get one
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It would appear the guys girlfriend has been lying to him but has come clean.
"So let me get this story straight, this was just a chance you had to take"
He then asks if the girl even thought of him when she was cheating/whatever, and then tells her that she's blown her last chance. "Did I even cross your mind? This will be the last time you cross mine"
It would then appear that he knew all along based on personal experience. "Whoa, for Heaven's sake I see right through you, whoa, I've got secrets too"
The references to the gun and the bullet are a sign of the way the guy thinks he's been used by the girl. "and I can be your bullet you bite down on"
The next verse signifies the guy finally losing it and leaving her. "Marionette, are your strings tied tight for proper movement? - The guy is calling the girl fake. Take a deep, deep breath, I'm dying just to wrap these strings around your neck - He's being pushed to the brink But I'll stitch my eyes wide open 'cause I don't want to miss the look on your face - Taking pride in leaving the girl when I drive away You know you're sharp but sharp just doesn't cut it anymore - He's had enough of her I'll show you a side of me you've never seen before" - Darker traits of his personality are coming through here.
My favourite lyric in the song is this "Blame it all on bottoms up, and all the boys that kept filling your cup I love the way you say you don't remember anything"
Here the girl is trying to blame alcohol for her cheating/whatever.. "Blame it all on bottoms up" People keep buying her drinks.. "filling your cup"
That pretty much sums the song up.
i think this song is about this doods gf cheating on him and shes trying to hide it from him but he knows
i love this song, i can really relate to it. i believe its about "getting screwed over", whether its your gf/bf cheating on you, or your best friend stabbing you in the back, etc.