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.
Do do do do do
Do do do do do
I can promise you
Oh oh
Sometimes I feel we've gone too far now
It's as if you try to push me too hard
It's gotten crazy, oh
But I can't help what's going on around me (What's going on)
You act as if it were my fault
I'm the one who never hears your call
I know, I should've been more stronger
Can't help what's coming over me
It's life (It's life) It's life (It's life)
But, you're the one who makes go mad
So, I can promise you that...
(Ahhhhhhh....)
Chorus
Believe me
You'll be looking for trouble
If you tell me to leave you forever
I can promise you, baby
You'll be looking for trouble
If you try to hurt me
I can promise you, now
You'll be looking for trouble
Believe me
This is what I see
You and me moving on
But that's what will happen
If you keep doing this to me
I can promise you, yeah
You'll be looking for trouble
Oh, believe me
If you feel I caused so much trouble
Then you should just leave then
I can't help the chains around me
That's controlling from what I do
But I can be nobody else (no no no)
I know, I should've been stronger (Ohhhhh!)
Can't help what's coming over me
It's life (It's life) It's life (It's life) (Oh baby, it's life)
But you're the one who makes go mad
So I can promise you that... (baby)
(Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!)
Chorus
Believe me
You'll be looking for trouble (Oh oh)
If you tell me to leave you forever
I can promise you, baby (Oh yeah)
You'll be looking for trouble
If you try to hurt me (If you hurt me)
I can promise you, now
You'll be looking for trouble
Believe me
This is what I see (Yeah, yeah)
You and me moving on (I will move on)
But that's what will happen
If you keep doing this to me
I can promise you, yeah (I can promise you)
You'll be looking for trouble
Oh, believe me (Oh)
Looks like spent all your stuff on money,
But somehow I am full of forgiveness
So I guess were meant to be (meant to be)
Though, your love was pretty amazing
Guess I overreacted too much
That doesn't mean I won't still remember the bad times (oh oh)
(Ohhhhhhh, baby)
Chorus
Believe me
You'll be looking for trouble (You'll be looking for trouble)
If you tell me to leave you forever (Forever)
I can promise you, baby (I can promise you)
You'll be looking for trouble (Yeah)
If you try to hurt me
I can promise you, now (Oh, I do)
You'll be looking for trouble (Ah, yeah)
Believe me (Believe me)
This is what I see (I can see it)
You and me moving on (Oh no no no)
But that's what will happen
If you keep doing this to me (To me)
I can promise you, yeah (Ohh ohh oh)
You'll be looking for trouble (ah ah)
Oh, believe me (Believe me)
Chorus
Believe me (You gotta believe me)
You'll be looking for trouble (Cause I can promise you)
If you tell me to leave you forever (You will be looking for trouble)
I can promise you, baby (Ohh yeah)
You'll be looking for trouble (You'll be asking for it)
If you try to hurt me (If you hurt me)
I can promise you, now
You'll be looking for trouble (I say, I say)
Believe me (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
This is what I see (hey, yeah)
You and me moving on (We can move on if we have to)
But that's what will happen (It will happen if you keep doing this to me)
If you keep doing this to me (oh woah)
I can promise you, yeah (ooh oh)
You'll be looking for trouble (I know)
Oh, believe me (You gotta believe me, yeah)
Do do do do do
I can promise you
Oh oh
Sometimes I feel we've gone too far now
It's as if you try to push me too hard
It's gotten crazy, oh
But I can't help what's going on around me (What's going on)
You act as if it were my fault
I'm the one who never hears your call
I know, I should've been more stronger
Can't help what's coming over me
It's life (It's life) It's life (It's life)
But, you're the one who makes go mad
So, I can promise you that...
(Ahhhhhhh....)
Chorus
Believe me
You'll be looking for trouble
If you tell me to leave you forever
I can promise you, baby
You'll be looking for trouble
If you try to hurt me
I can promise you, now
You'll be looking for trouble
Believe me
This is what I see
You and me moving on
But that's what will happen
If you keep doing this to me
I can promise you, yeah
You'll be looking for trouble
Oh, believe me
If you feel I caused so much trouble
Then you should just leave then
I can't help the chains around me
That's controlling from what I do
But I can be nobody else (no no no)
I know, I should've been stronger (Ohhhhh!)
Can't help what's coming over me
It's life (It's life) It's life (It's life) (Oh baby, it's life)
But you're the one who makes go mad
So I can promise you that... (baby)
(Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!)
Chorus
Believe me
You'll be looking for trouble (Oh oh)
If you tell me to leave you forever
I can promise you, baby (Oh yeah)
You'll be looking for trouble
If you try to hurt me (If you hurt me)
I can promise you, now
You'll be looking for trouble
Believe me
This is what I see (Yeah, yeah)
You and me moving on (I will move on)
But that's what will happen
If you keep doing this to me
I can promise you, yeah (I can promise you)
You'll be looking for trouble
Oh, believe me (Oh)
Looks like spent all your stuff on money,
But somehow I am full of forgiveness
So I guess were meant to be (meant to be)
Though, your love was pretty amazing
Guess I overreacted too much
That doesn't mean I won't still remember the bad times (oh oh)
(Ohhhhhhh, baby)
Chorus
Believe me
You'll be looking for trouble (You'll be looking for trouble)
If you tell me to leave you forever (Forever)
I can promise you, baby (I can promise you)
You'll be looking for trouble (Yeah)
If you try to hurt me
I can promise you, now (Oh, I do)
You'll be looking for trouble (Ah, yeah)
Believe me (Believe me)
This is what I see (I can see it)
You and me moving on (Oh no no no)
But that's what will happen
If you keep doing this to me (To me)
I can promise you, yeah (Ohh ohh oh)
You'll be looking for trouble (ah ah)
Oh, believe me (Believe me)
Chorus
Believe me (You gotta believe me)
You'll be looking for trouble (Cause I can promise you)
If you tell me to leave you forever (You will be looking for trouble)
I can promise you, baby (Ohh yeah)
You'll be looking for trouble (You'll be asking for it)
If you try to hurt me (If you hurt me)
I can promise you, now
You'll be looking for trouble (I say, I say)
Believe me (Yeah, yeah, yeah)
This is what I see (hey, yeah)
You and me moving on (We can move on if we have to)
But that's what will happen (It will happen if you keep doing this to me)
If you keep doing this to me (oh woah)
I can promise you, yeah (ooh oh)
You'll be looking for trouble (I know)
Oh, believe me (You gotta believe me, yeah)
Lyrics submitted by Morning-Star
I Can Promise You (You'll Be Lookin' For Trouble) song meanings
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