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.
Girl, I gotta tell you
That I'm utterly impressed
With the way that you look
In those fancy clothes
As you're headed out to parties
That you'd never find me near
With the boys that you met
At the bar
And do you drink until you're sloppy
Smoke until you're done?
Or do you refrain 'cause it goes to your head
Now you're close enough to kiss me
Lying next to me in bed
With your eyes stained red
From the evening's events
So she whispers and she says to me
"Can I tell you the truth?"
You're taking too many chances
On songs that you're singing
And too many stories from towns that you've seen
I'm screaming, "Listen, listen
It's all that I ask you, believe me
Once again"
Girl, I gotta tell you
That I'm desperately amused
With the way that you speak
And the things that you do
Showing up at every hour
And in every state of mind
Makes me wish I could tell you
You're wasting my time
As she wakes me up from dreaming
And I stumble through the door
And I think to myself this has happened before
Now she's begging me to kiss her
With those eyes that I adore
And I think to myself
This has happened before
So she whispers and she says to me
"Can I tell you the truth?"
You're taking too many chances
On songs that you're singing
And too many stories from towns that you've seen
I'm screaming, "Listen, listen
It's all that I ask you, believe me
Once again"
You're taking pictures of all
Of our times
So we remember our lives
When we change
I only hope that your will to forget
How our lives could have worked if I changed
'Cause I won't try to change who I am
And if that means our end
Well, then the lights go down
Across this worn out town
I'll say goodbye to an old friend
You're taking too many chances
On songs that you're singing
And too many stories from towns that you've seen
I'm screaming, "Listen, listen
It's all that I ask you, believe me
Once again"
That I'm utterly impressed
With the way that you look
In those fancy clothes
As you're headed out to parties
That you'd never find me near
With the boys that you met
At the bar
And do you drink until you're sloppy
Smoke until you're done?
Or do you refrain 'cause it goes to your head
Now you're close enough to kiss me
Lying next to me in bed
With your eyes stained red
From the evening's events
So she whispers and she says to me
"Can I tell you the truth?"
You're taking too many chances
On songs that you're singing
And too many stories from towns that you've seen
I'm screaming, "Listen, listen
It's all that I ask you, believe me
Once again"
Girl, I gotta tell you
That I'm desperately amused
With the way that you speak
And the things that you do
Showing up at every hour
And in every state of mind
Makes me wish I could tell you
You're wasting my time
As she wakes me up from dreaming
And I stumble through the door
And I think to myself this has happened before
Now she's begging me to kiss her
With those eyes that I adore
And I think to myself
This has happened before
So she whispers and she says to me
"Can I tell you the truth?"
You're taking too many chances
On songs that you're singing
And too many stories from towns that you've seen
I'm screaming, "Listen, listen
It's all that I ask you, believe me
Once again"
You're taking pictures of all
Of our times
So we remember our lives
When we change
I only hope that your will to forget
How our lives could have worked if I changed
'Cause I won't try to change who I am
And if that means our end
Well, then the lights go down
Across this worn out town
I'll say goodbye to an old friend
You're taking too many chances
On songs that you're singing
And too many stories from towns that you've seen
I'm screaming, "Listen, listen
It's all that I ask you, believe me
Once again"
Lyrics submitted by BleedorBreathe
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