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.
What up
What up
Listen
What you starin' in the mirror for
Tellin' yourself ya ugly
What you wearing those high heels for
When they're torturing your feet (you know they're killing you)
Why you puttin' all that make-up on
Hiding your pretty face (Uh uh)
Blowin' all your money in that salon
Tryin' to find ya place (no)
In this world you fit in
Or you're out and you're made
To believe
That this is what it's all about
And don't you know
Real beauty shines from within
It's what you wearing under your skin
Your perfect imperfections
Led you in the wrong direction
And made you think
That you are incomplete
But looks are only skin deep
Oh oh yeah yeah
Why you flippin through the magazine
Trying to be those girls (well stop it)
Gettin' all frustrated
But it's not the end of the world (its superficial)
So what if you can't get into a size three
You're beautiful to me (beautiful to me)
Stop trying to be Tyra's top model
Girl go and find your own way to follow
In this world you fit in
Or you're out and you're made
To believe
That this is what it's all about
And don't you know
Real beauty shines from within
It's what you wearing under your skin
Your perfect imperfections
Led you in the wrong direction
And made you think
That you are incomplete
But looks are all your skin deep
From the side walk
To the boardwalk
To the cat walk
Don't talk
About the way you walk
But it's not your fault
So if the girls talk,
Watch you like a hawk
They love to hate
And they can't wait
To get inside
And make you cry
Cry, cry, cry, cry
Just let 'em know
That you made ya own
Now being you is not all wrong
Do ya thang
Let your light shine
They'll come around
In God's time
And if they don't
Just let it be
When they stop being shallow
Then they'll see
Girl, I'm tellin' you (Come on!)
Just be your self!
In this world you fit in
Or you're out and you're made
To believe yeah
That this is what it's all about
And don't you know
Real beauty shines from within
It's what you wearing under your skin
Your perfect imperfections
Led you in the wrong direction
And made you think
That you are incomplete
But looks are only skin deep
Oh Ohh
Yeah
What up
Listen
What you starin' in the mirror for
Tellin' yourself ya ugly
What you wearing those high heels for
When they're torturing your feet (you know they're killing you)
Why you puttin' all that make-up on
Hiding your pretty face (Uh uh)
Blowin' all your money in that salon
Tryin' to find ya place (no)
In this world you fit in
Or you're out and you're made
To believe
That this is what it's all about
And don't you know
Real beauty shines from within
It's what you wearing under your skin
Your perfect imperfections
Led you in the wrong direction
And made you think
That you are incomplete
But looks are only skin deep
Oh oh yeah yeah
Why you flippin through the magazine
Trying to be those girls (well stop it)
Gettin' all frustrated
But it's not the end of the world (its superficial)
So what if you can't get into a size three
You're beautiful to me (beautiful to me)
Stop trying to be Tyra's top model
Girl go and find your own way to follow
In this world you fit in
Or you're out and you're made
To believe
That this is what it's all about
And don't you know
Real beauty shines from within
It's what you wearing under your skin
Your perfect imperfections
Led you in the wrong direction
And made you think
That you are incomplete
But looks are all your skin deep
From the side walk
To the boardwalk
To the cat walk
Don't talk
About the way you walk
But it's not your fault
So if the girls talk,
Watch you like a hawk
They love to hate
And they can't wait
To get inside
And make you cry
Cry, cry, cry, cry
Just let 'em know
That you made ya own
Now being you is not all wrong
Do ya thang
Let your light shine
They'll come around
In God's time
And if they don't
Just let it be
When they stop being shallow
Then they'll see
Girl, I'm tellin' you (Come on!)
Just be your self!
In this world you fit in
Or you're out and you're made
To believe yeah
That this is what it's all about
And don't you know
Real beauty shines from within
It's what you wearing under your skin
Your perfect imperfections
Led you in the wrong direction
And made you think
That you are incomplete
But looks are only skin deep
Oh Ohh
Yeah
Lyrics submitted by Breakingbenjaminfan
Skin Deep Lyrics as written by Loreal Palmer Keke Palmer
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Light Up The Sky
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Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
Blue
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“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Such a beautiful song!