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.
Are you having trouble finding sleep at night?
Or does your lack of conscience tell you
Everything's all right?
I trust your good intentions
That you're watching over friends
You must think that I'm crazy
If I don't see through that grin
So tell me what your best friend knows
That I don't know
Tell me why you talk me down
Wherever you go
You're a saint, you're a queen
And I'm just another boy without a crown
Tell me why you sell me out everywhere you go
I just wanna know what your best friend knows
So vindictive, you'll say anything you like
The smile you fake, the steps you take
You know you never could get it right
And talk is cheap
So make believe your secrets find the grave
It's too late, you gave up
Your last chance to walk away
So tell me what your best friend knows
That I don't know
Tell me why you talk me down
Wherever you go
You're a saint, you're a queen
And I'm just another boy without a crown
Tell me why you sell me out everywhere you go
I just wanna know what your best friend knows
You stand a little too tall, say a little too much
Gonna bite that know-it-all tongue
You tried a little too hard, now I'm calling that bluff
Big plans are coming undone
That's just typical, you're so cynical
Couldn't have me, I didn't want you
You're selling me out to the girl I can't afford to lose
You stand a little too tall, say a little too much
You're gonna bite that know-it-all tongue
You tried a little too hard, now I'm calling that bluff
Big plans are coming undone
That's just typical, you're so cynical
Couldn't have me, I didn't want you
You set yourself up to lose
So tell me what your best friend knows
That I don't know
Tell me why you talk me down
Wherever you go
You're a saint, you're a queen
And I'm just another boy without a crown
Tell me why you sell me out everywhere you go
I just wanna know what your best friend knows
What your best friend knows
I'm never gonna let this go
What your best friend knows
Or does your lack of conscience tell you
Everything's all right?
I trust your good intentions
That you're watching over friends
You must think that I'm crazy
If I don't see through that grin
So tell me what your best friend knows
That I don't know
Tell me why you talk me down
Wherever you go
You're a saint, you're a queen
And I'm just another boy without a crown
Tell me why you sell me out everywhere you go
I just wanna know what your best friend knows
So vindictive, you'll say anything you like
The smile you fake, the steps you take
You know you never could get it right
And talk is cheap
So make believe your secrets find the grave
It's too late, you gave up
Your last chance to walk away
So tell me what your best friend knows
That I don't know
Tell me why you talk me down
Wherever you go
You're a saint, you're a queen
And I'm just another boy without a crown
Tell me why you sell me out everywhere you go
I just wanna know what your best friend knows
You stand a little too tall, say a little too much
Gonna bite that know-it-all tongue
You tried a little too hard, now I'm calling that bluff
Big plans are coming undone
That's just typical, you're so cynical
Couldn't have me, I didn't want you
You're selling me out to the girl I can't afford to lose
You stand a little too tall, say a little too much
You're gonna bite that know-it-all tongue
You tried a little too hard, now I'm calling that bluff
Big plans are coming undone
That's just typical, you're so cynical
Couldn't have me, I didn't want you
You set yourself up to lose
So tell me what your best friend knows
That I don't know
Tell me why you talk me down
Wherever you go
You're a saint, you're a queen
And I'm just another boy without a crown
Tell me why you sell me out everywhere you go
I just wanna know what your best friend knows
What your best friend knows
I'm never gonna let this go
What your best friend knows
Lyrics submitted by thoseguiltyeyes
Keep the Change, You Filthy Animal Lyrics as written by Jack Bassam Barakat Alexander William Gaskarth
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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You stand a little too tall Say a little too much You're gonna bite that know-it-all tongue You tried a little too hard Now I'm calling that bluff Big plans are coming undone That's just typical (Typical) You're so cynical (Cynical) Couldn't have me I didn't want you You're selling me out To the girl I can't afford to lose
i think this song is about a girl that really used to like him, and he didn't feel the same way about her. then he ended up going out with a differnet girl that happened to be the other girls best friend. and this new girl that he has, he's completely in love with... hence. Couldn't have me I didn't want you You're selling me out To the girl I can't afford to lose
the girl he's going out with now's best friend used to really like him, and since she didn't get him, she's talking all this bad crap about him to the girlfriend to try to break em up..
agree anyone?
i think its about a girl that used to have a thing for him... ..but he wasn't into her... .. but he is into her best friend.. that's why he wants to know what her best friend knows..
but the girl that wanted him keeps on doggin him to her friend.. because he wasn't into her..
"You're selling me out To the girl I can't afford to lose"
idk thats what i'm gettin from the whole song
Comletely agree .
I just posted a comment about that without reading this.<br /> But I agree 100%.
I think it's about dating somebody who's best friend doesn't like you.
That's why he talks about "you're selling me out to the girl I can't afford to lose" like he's saying that her bff is all ways talking crap about him to his girlfriend.
that's probably allll wrong though. lol
Dude, this song is just about people who talk shit. More specifically in the storyline of the story, it's a girl he wanted but he ended up turning her down. [Couldn't have me, I didn't want you] And she ended up talking shit about him to everyone, including Lisa [the girl I can't afford to lose].
It's a very high-school song. I love it. (:
And it's not about him dating her best friend. The line "tell me what your best friend knows that I don't know" is about rumors because the first person someone gossips to is usually their best friend. So he's basically being sort-of sarcastic saying, "So, what's the latest dirt on me, girls? I'm dying to know."
It makes more sense that way if you think about it. I love this song, though, because I get my name put in people's mouths all the time for no reason other than I'm not a whore, so they make shit up saying I am. So I think it's fantastic to have something this relatable.
Poor Alex. Sick of rumors. ): The Home Alone reference is boss, btw.
i think instead of "dock me down," it's "talk me down" i don't know about the 2nd line though...
I think it's about a girl who wants/wanted to get with him but he didn't want her back so she started talking crap about him to her friends or possibly said they had something when they didn't.
i think the line after 'so tell me what your best friend knows' is 'that i don't know'
but i have no clue what the 2nd line is.
damn i wanna know the story behind this song lol
i think its about a girl that used to have a thing for him...<br /> ..but he wasn't into her...<br /> ..<br /> but he is into her best friend..<br /> that's why he wants to know what her best friend knows..<br /> <br /> but the girl that wanted him keeps on doggin him to her friend..<br /> because he wasn't into her..<br /> <br /> "You're selling me out<br /> To the girl I can't afford to lose"<br /> <br /> idk thats what i'm gettin from the whole song<br /> <br />
<3333333 =) pre-ordered <33333
i think it might be about alex and his girlfriend and she doesnt talk to him abotu anything at all. and when she finally does its nasty and not nice. and he.s telling her hes had enough w. it but he doesnt want to lose her becuase he loves her.
idkk thats what i got from it