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.
Boy it's been all this time,
And I can't get you off my mind,
And nobody knows it but me.
I stare at your photograph,
Still sleep in the shirt you left,
And nobody knows it but me.
Everyday I wipe my tears away,
So many nights I've prayed for you to say.
I should have been chasing you,
I should have been trying to prove,
That you were all that mattered to me,
I should have said all the things,
That I kept inside of me and maybe,
I could have made you believe,
That what we had was all we ever need.
My friends think I'm moving on,
But the truth is that I'm not that strong, and nobody knows it but me.
And I've kept all the works you said,
In a box underneath my bed,
And nobody knows it but me.
But if you're happy I'll get through somehow,
But the truth is that I've been screaming out.
I should have been chasing you,
I should have been trying to prove,
That you were all that mattered to me,
I should have said all the things,
That I kept inside of me and maybe,
I could have made you believe,
That what we had was all we ever need.
It was all we'd ever need.
Oh, thought it was all we'd ever need.
I should have been chasing you,
You should have been trying to prove,
That you were all that mattered to me,
You should have said all the things,
That I kept inside of me and maybe,
You could have made me believe,
That what we had was all we ever need.
Was all we'd ever need
And I can't get you off my mind,
And nobody knows it but me.
I stare at your photograph,
Still sleep in the shirt you left,
And nobody knows it but me.
Everyday I wipe my tears away,
So many nights I've prayed for you to say.
I should have been chasing you,
I should have been trying to prove,
That you were all that mattered to me,
I should have said all the things,
That I kept inside of me and maybe,
I could have made you believe,
That what we had was all we ever need.
My friends think I'm moving on,
But the truth is that I'm not that strong, and nobody knows it but me.
And I've kept all the works you said,
In a box underneath my bed,
And nobody knows it but me.
But if you're happy I'll get through somehow,
But the truth is that I've been screaming out.
I should have been chasing you,
I should have been trying to prove,
That you were all that mattered to me,
I should have said all the things,
That I kept inside of me and maybe,
I could have made you believe,
That what we had was all we ever need.
It was all we'd ever need.
Oh, thought it was all we'd ever need.
I should have been chasing you,
You should have been trying to prove,
That you were all that mattered to me,
You should have said all the things,
That I kept inside of me and maybe,
You could have made me believe,
That what we had was all we ever need.
Was all we'd ever need
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
" My friends think I'm moving on But the truth is I'm not that strong and nobody knows it but me And I've kept all the words you said In a box underneath my bed And nobody knows it but me "
i truly do have a box underneath my bed. it holds everything he gave me , every love note, every movie ticket,even every thought i've ever written down about him.. the thing is..its been three years and ive dated many guys after him, my friends all think im over him but the truth is im really not. the pain never goes away no matter how many people you end of in a relationship no matter how much time passes the pain never goes away it justs gets easier to deal with.
i absolutely love this song its about this couple who broke up and after all this time they still think about what they had and they regret ever breaking up. im going through that right now me and my ex boyfriend broke up two months ago and i wish we were together now. :( but we can't because he likes someone else now.. hopefully someday in the future we can be together again, because we truely loved each other.
I believe that this song is about two people who broke up awhile ago for reasons they now find ridiculous or can't remember. Since they broke up, they've been trying to find something or someone new in their life to make them happy but nothing works. They still have the same feelings for each other and they try to suppress the fact that they still love the other person but they can't... they can only hide it from other people, but in all honesty they constantly think of each other and want them back because they keep thinking about the love they shared (and didn't yet extinguish).
I'm going through this right now. I thought that I was insane for still liking my ex. But last night he told me that he still crazy about me and has strong intense feelings for me that he can't hold in anymore. I was so relieved, because we broke up three months ago and I haven't gone a day without thinking about him, I check his facebook page, relate every song to him and I, save all of our conversations online... and reread them over and over, and reminisce our past. We're both relieved now that we know we still love each other "after all this time".
This song makes me think of regret. It's when two people look back at a relationship (or what could have been a relationship) and realize what they had, but they let it go and now they keep thinking back at what they could have had.
this song is so beautiful and so are their voices.. i'm so happy i found this band :)
this song breaks my heart. it's exactly how i feel :/
escpecially "but if you're happy i'll get through somehow, but the truth is i've been screaming out"
God that line hits me so hard.
"but if you're happy i'll get through somehow, but the truth is i've been screaming out"
Best line in the song. You just want him to be happy because you care so much, that you push aside your feelings.
You think about all the 'what ifs' and 'only ifs' and torment yourself with thoughts. Only if you had shown more love, only if you had done this differently, etc etc. You keep your thoughts and feelings to yourself because you need to seem strong to everyone, but deep down inside you are dieing more and more each day.
This song really captures the tragedy of the "would be love" that I'm sure we've all experienced. They both loved each other but never said the words when it would have mattered. Perhaps they had a fight, drifted apart, or were too afraid of rejection to make something spark in the first place. Life will always be haunted with those "what ifs" if you don't tell that someone how you feel.
i have so much love for this song, though it is super sad. i believe it's about two people who miss each other and keep looking back on their failed relationship and wishing that they had tried harder to stay together, but neither knows that the other is thinking about them too so they never get back together. it's so tragic, but romantic as well.
Love this song! Going to there concert soon. I hope they perform this song! Going through a recent break-up and came accross this song! Our song used to be "Need You Now." I love their other song on the CD "Ready to Love Again" which I'm not.. This songs relates to so much of what I'm going through. This part - My friends think I'm moving on<br /> But the truth is I'm not that strong and nobody knows it but me<br /> And I've kept all the words you said<br /> In a box underneath my bed<br /> And nobody knows it but me<br /> <br /> But if you're happy I'll get through somehow<br /> But the truth is that I've been screaming out<br /> <br /> I should have been chasing you<br /> I should have been trying to prove<br /> That you were all that mattered to me<br /> I should have said all the things<br /> That I kept inside of me and maybe<br /> I could have made you believe<br /> That what we had was all we'd ever need<br /> <br /> <br /> I'm just wondering if she is singing the first part of the song. I'm wondering if I should be chasing. They say to let them go and give them space. It was her decision for the break-up... Love her so much.. I hope there is a happy ending for me and Laurie!