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.
If you're the bird,
Whenever we pretend it's summer,
Then I'm the worm,
I know the part, it's such a bummer,
But fair is fair,
If my segments get separated,
I'll scream
And you'll be there.
Close your eyes (close my eyes),
(Slide the cotton off of your shoulder)
And feel the shine (feel the shine),
I'm hooked so toss me over,
And cast a line (oh I'll try),
Oh throw a party and greet my undersea friends (it depends),
As they arrive (if they arrive),
You and I left our troubles far behind (troubles far behind),
But I still have just one more question on my mind,
For all my pals who live in all the oceans and the seas,
With friends like these well, who needs enemies?
Da dat dah da da da da da da dat dah
If I'm your boy,
Let's take a short cut we remember,
And we'll enjoy,
Pickin' apples in late September
Like we've done for years,
Then we'll take a long walk through the corn field,
And I'll kiss you, between the ears,
If you're my girl,
Swirl me around your room with feeling,
And as we twirl, the glow in the dark stars on your ceiling,
Will shine for us,
As love sweeps over the room,
Cause we tend to make each other blush (you make me blush)
You and I left our troubles far behind (troubles far behind),
But I still have just one more question on my mind,
For all my pals who live in all the oceans and the seas,
With fronds like these well, who needs anemones?
You're the bird and I'm the worm,
And it's plain to see that we were meant to be
We were meant to be
Da dat dah da da da da da da dat dah
If you're the bird
If you're the bird
Then I'm the worm
We were meant to be
Whenever we pretend it's summer,
Then I'm the worm,
I know the part, it's such a bummer,
But fair is fair,
If my segments get separated,
I'll scream
And you'll be there.
Close your eyes (close my eyes),
(Slide the cotton off of your shoulder)
And feel the shine (feel the shine),
I'm hooked so toss me over,
And cast a line (oh I'll try),
Oh throw a party and greet my undersea friends (it depends),
As they arrive (if they arrive),
You and I left our troubles far behind (troubles far behind),
But I still have just one more question on my mind,
For all my pals who live in all the oceans and the seas,
With friends like these well, who needs enemies?
Da dat dah da da da da da da dat dah
If I'm your boy,
Let's take a short cut we remember,
And we'll enjoy,
Pickin' apples in late September
Like we've done for years,
Then we'll take a long walk through the corn field,
And I'll kiss you, between the ears,
If you're my girl,
Swirl me around your room with feeling,
And as we twirl, the glow in the dark stars on your ceiling,
Will shine for us,
As love sweeps over the room,
Cause we tend to make each other blush (you make me blush)
You and I left our troubles far behind (troubles far behind),
But I still have just one more question on my mind,
For all my pals who live in all the oceans and the seas,
With fronds like these well, who needs anemones?
You're the bird and I'm the worm,
And it's plain to see that we were meant to be
We were meant to be
Da dat dah da da da da da da dat dah
If you're the bird
If you're the bird
Then I'm the worm
We were meant to be
Lyrics submitted by LovelyMauve
The Bird and the Worm Lyrics as written by Adam Young Matthew Thiessen
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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While it's clearly a song about being in love, I think it's actually a little sadder than the song sounds. I'm taking it as, being crazy in love with someone who you KNOW is not good for you, and will hurt you, but you can't help but love them. (Birds eat worms).
If you listen, I mean, he's talking about being torn apart (if my segments get separated), and thrown away (I'm hooked so toss me over). And the whole "with friends like these". Clearly this is a girl that is NOT good for him, but he's going for it anyway and just enjoying it while he can? Or maybe a bit of wishful thinking that it will all work out (repeating "we where meant to be" at the end)
I really love your take on the song and It really helps me get at more of the meaning (: thanks <3
That makes sense, i always thot it was about love so i wondered why would choose a bird and a worm bc they wouldnt be a very goodmatch lol