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.
Midnight at the glamour show on a Sunday night
Everybody drink a lotta whiskey and wine
We dance like no tomorrow, we're on burlesque time
But everybody's gotta work tomorrow at nine
Touch me, t-touch me baby
But don't mess up my hair (o-o-o-o-oh)
Love me, l-love me crazy
But don't get too attached
This is a brief affair
Vanity (o-o-oh)
Pictures in magazines, movie screens
Vanity (o-o-oh)
There is a camera, so many beauty queens
Vanity (o-o-oh)
It's so good to be populous and glamorous
We love ourselves and no one else
V-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-vanity
V-vanity
V-v-v-v-vanity
Nothing wrong with being just a little bit vain
We need a little pretty 'cause this country's insane
So go ahead and label me whatever you like
But nothing's quite as sexy as a woman this fine
Touch me, t-touch me baby
But don't mess up my hair (o-o-o-o-oh)
Love me, l-love me crazy
But don't get too attached
This is a brief affair
Vanity (o-o-oh)
Pictures in magazines, movie screens
Vanity (o-o-oh)
There is a camera, so many beauty queens
Vanity (o-o-oh)
It's so good to be populous and glamorous
We love ourselves and no one else
Look at me (watcha lookin' at)
Look at me (watcha starin' at)
(2x)
(O-o-oh)
I'm comin' around, I'm sippin' on andre, it's time (o-o-oh)
I heard the cutie's in the back startin' the p-party line (o-o-oh)
Let's dance, quick round, we're in the vanity house
We'll cover the sequents, diamonds
We're happy 'cause we're shining
Touch me t-touch me baby
But don't mess up my hair (o-o-o-o-oh)
Love me l-love me crazy
But don't get too attached
This is a brief affair
Vanity (o-o-oh)
Pictures in magazines, movie screens
Vanity (o-o-oh)
There is a camera, so many beauty queens
Vanity (o-o-oh)
It's so good to be populous and glamorous
We love ourselves and no one else
(2x)
Everybody drink a lotta whiskey and wine
We dance like no tomorrow, we're on burlesque time
But everybody's gotta work tomorrow at nine
Touch me, t-touch me baby
But don't mess up my hair (o-o-o-o-oh)
Love me, l-love me crazy
But don't get too attached
This is a brief affair
Vanity (o-o-oh)
Pictures in magazines, movie screens
Vanity (o-o-oh)
There is a camera, so many beauty queens
Vanity (o-o-oh)
It's so good to be populous and glamorous
We love ourselves and no one else
V-v-v-v-v-v-v-v-vanity
V-vanity
V-v-v-v-vanity
Nothing wrong with being just a little bit vain
We need a little pretty 'cause this country's insane
So go ahead and label me whatever you like
But nothing's quite as sexy as a woman this fine
Touch me, t-touch me baby
But don't mess up my hair (o-o-o-o-oh)
Love me, l-love me crazy
But don't get too attached
This is a brief affair
Vanity (o-o-oh)
Pictures in magazines, movie screens
Vanity (o-o-oh)
There is a camera, so many beauty queens
Vanity (o-o-oh)
It's so good to be populous and glamorous
We love ourselves and no one else
Look at me (watcha lookin' at)
Look at me (watcha starin' at)
(2x)
(O-o-oh)
I'm comin' around, I'm sippin' on andre, it's time (o-o-oh)
I heard the cutie's in the back startin' the p-party line (o-o-oh)
Let's dance, quick round, we're in the vanity house
We'll cover the sequents, diamonds
We're happy 'cause we're shining
Touch me t-touch me baby
But don't mess up my hair (o-o-o-o-oh)
Love me l-love me crazy
But don't get too attached
This is a brief affair
Vanity (o-o-oh)
Pictures in magazines, movie screens
Vanity (o-o-oh)
There is a camera, so many beauty queens
Vanity (o-o-oh)
It's so good to be populous and glamorous
We love ourselves and no one else
(2x)
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But don't get too attached, this is a BRIEF affair.
Not brink affair.