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.
It's a shame
We?ll never let this see the light of day
But don't be afraid
Your secret's safe with me
And only Heaven knows how far we'll go
To keep them on their toes
And don't you dare be scared with sins to bare
'Cause this is who we are
I'll be the reason you're wrong
But I don't want to be the reason they find you out
Somebody's got it in for you
So don't make a sound, don't make a sound
Don't let them get the best of you, the best of you
They'll sink their teeth in if you let them catch you
And if these streets could talk
Then I'd know just what they'd say
"You're reckless at best
But you got carried away, you got carried away"
We can really be some devils
And these stories have a way of telling themselves
Are we done raising hell?
This time we'll keep the best ones for ourselves
I'll be the reason you're wrong
But I don't want to be the reason they find you out
Somebody's got it in for you
So don't make a sound, don't make a sound
Don't let them get the best of you, the best of you
They'll sink their teeth in if you let them catch you
This city was built on secrets
It's where all the good ones come from
You must have missed me
'Cause you don't have a thing to say
Every time I go away
So this is what we're up against
In this city of secrets
Oh my God, forgive me for who I'm not
We all steal looks when we can
Driving by the accident but we never stop
I'll be the reason you're wrong
But I don't want to be the reason they find you out
Somebody's got it in for you
So don't make a sound, don't make a sound
Don't let them get the best of you, the best of you
They'll sink their teeth in if you let them catch you
I'll be the reason you're wrong
But I don't want to be the reason they find you out
Somebody's got it in for you
So don't make a sound, don't make a sound
Don't let them get the best of you, the best of you
They'll sink their teeth in if you let them catch you
We?ll never let this see the light of day
But don't be afraid
Your secret's safe with me
And only Heaven knows how far we'll go
To keep them on their toes
And don't you dare be scared with sins to bare
'Cause this is who we are
I'll be the reason you're wrong
But I don't want to be the reason they find you out
Somebody's got it in for you
So don't make a sound, don't make a sound
Don't let them get the best of you, the best of you
They'll sink their teeth in if you let them catch you
And if these streets could talk
Then I'd know just what they'd say
"You're reckless at best
But you got carried away, you got carried away"
We can really be some devils
And these stories have a way of telling themselves
Are we done raising hell?
This time we'll keep the best ones for ourselves
I'll be the reason you're wrong
But I don't want to be the reason they find you out
Somebody's got it in for you
So don't make a sound, don't make a sound
Don't let them get the best of you, the best of you
They'll sink their teeth in if you let them catch you
This city was built on secrets
It's where all the good ones come from
You must have missed me
'Cause you don't have a thing to say
Every time I go away
So this is what we're up against
In this city of secrets
Oh my God, forgive me for who I'm not
We all steal looks when we can
Driving by the accident but we never stop
I'll be the reason you're wrong
But I don't want to be the reason they find you out
Somebody's got it in for you
So don't make a sound, don't make a sound
Don't let them get the best of you, the best of you
They'll sink their teeth in if you let them catch you
I'll be the reason you're wrong
But I don't want to be the reason they find you out
Somebody's got it in for you
So don't make a sound, don't make a sound
Don't let them get the best of you, the best of you
They'll sink their teeth in if you let them catch you
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love this song, especially "Oh my God, forgive me for who I'm not"
this song was written on the fact that rumors are spread about people in the band and that secrets are spread..this band is from detriot
I like the line:
"We'll all steal looks when we can, driving by the accident, but we never stop"
It's so true. We all want to know the gossip and all the secrets of scandalous things going on, but we don't use the knowledge for good. We want to know so we can spread the gossip instead of do something positive with it. Our intentions are wrong. We never stop at the accident to see if they need help. We never work to clean up the things that go wrong. Instead, we tell all the secrets and talk bad about people.
This song is definitely about rumors and gossip and how it affects a person.
This is just my interpretation, but it really makes sense in my own life. I'm gay and I live in a place where if you are that way, you're dead. If not physically, certainly emotionally. Especially the references to sins and hiding, and "this is who we are." It's also like if they know that about you, they make you out to be a bad person as well, "forgive me for who I'm not." I know that's not what the song is supposed to be about, but that's what it means to me <3
I really like the line, "Oh my God, forgive me for who I'm not". So it could be like praying to God for forgiving the things you are not, but I love to interpret it as if you're saying it in frustration, not directly to God. More like "OH MY GOD! Sorry I'm not how you want me to be." More like you're addressing other people who disapprove of you somehow.
I think this is a song about a cheater. "I'll be the reason you're wrong" the person is saying to their significant other that you can't tell people you're single, cause you're with me. "My god forgive me for who I'm not" their saying it sarcastically like "I'm sorry I'm not them".