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.
Silicone, saline, poison inject me
Baby, I'm a free bitch, I'm a free bitch
Some girls won't dance to the beat of the track
She won't walk away but she won't look back
She looks good but her boyfriend says she's a mess
She's a mess she's a mess
Now the girl is stressed
She's a mess she's a mess
She's a mess she's a mess (Tell 'em, girls)
Baby loves to dance in the dark
'Cause when he's lookin' she falls apart
Baby loves to dance, dance in the dark (Tell 'em, girls)
Baby loves to dance in the dark
'Cause when he's lookin' she falls apart
Baby loves to dance, dance in the dark (Tell 'em, girls)
Run, run her kiss is a vampire grin
The moon lights her way while she's howlin' at him
She looks good but her boyfriend says she's a tramp
She's a tramp she's a vamp
But she still does her dance
She's a tramp she's a vamp
But she still kills the dance
(Tell 'em, girls)
Baby loves to dance in the dark
'Cause when he's lookin' she falls apart
Baby loves to dance in the dark (Tell 'em, girls)
Baby loves to dance in the dark
'Cause when he's lookin', she falls apart
Baby loves to dance, dance in the dark (Tell 'em, girls)
In the dark she loves to dance in the dark
In the dark she loves, she loves to dance in the dark
Marilyn, Judy, Sylvia
Tell 'em how you feel girls!
Work your blond (Jean) Benet Ramsey
We'll haunt like Liberace
Find your freedom in the music
Find your Jesus, find your Kubrick
You will never fall apart
Diana, you're still in our hearts
Never let you fall apart
Together we'll dance in the dark
Baby loves to dance in the dark
'Cause when he's lookin', she falls apart
Baby loves to dance in the dark
Baby, baby loves to dance in the dark
'Cause when he's lookin', she falls apart
Baby loves to dance in the dark in the dark
Baby, I'm a free bitch, I'm a free bitch
Some girls won't dance to the beat of the track
She won't walk away but she won't look back
She looks good but her boyfriend says she's a mess
She's a mess she's a mess
Now the girl is stressed
She's a mess she's a mess
She's a mess she's a mess (Tell 'em, girls)
Baby loves to dance in the dark
'Cause when he's lookin' she falls apart
Baby loves to dance, dance in the dark (Tell 'em, girls)
Baby loves to dance in the dark
'Cause when he's lookin' she falls apart
Baby loves to dance, dance in the dark (Tell 'em, girls)
Run, run her kiss is a vampire grin
The moon lights her way while she's howlin' at him
She looks good but her boyfriend says she's a tramp
She's a tramp she's a vamp
But she still does her dance
She's a tramp she's a vamp
But she still kills the dance
(Tell 'em, girls)
Baby loves to dance in the dark
'Cause when he's lookin' she falls apart
Baby loves to dance in the dark (Tell 'em, girls)
Baby loves to dance in the dark
'Cause when he's lookin', she falls apart
Baby loves to dance, dance in the dark (Tell 'em, girls)
In the dark she loves to dance in the dark
In the dark she loves, she loves to dance in the dark
Marilyn, Judy, Sylvia
Tell 'em how you feel girls!
Work your blond (Jean) Benet Ramsey
We'll haunt like Liberace
Find your freedom in the music
Find your Jesus, find your Kubrick
You will never fall apart
Diana, you're still in our hearts
Never let you fall apart
Together we'll dance in the dark
Baby loves to dance in the dark
'Cause when he's lookin', she falls apart
Baby loves to dance in the dark
Baby, baby loves to dance in the dark
'Cause when he's lookin', she falls apart
Baby loves to dance in the dark in the dark
Lyrics submitted by AsiaHoBoom
Dance in the Dark Lyrics as written by Fernando Garibay Stefani Germanotta
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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I think this song is all about the general publics' outlook on female figures. The whole first verse is her saying "I can do what I want, I could kill myself, and I don't care what you say." (in other words, "Inject me, I'm a Free Bit-")
I've noticed that in most of her songs, Lady Gaga will put the main character as a male. (Like in Speechless, which was clearly about her dad, she says "That boy left me so speechless") I think she is saying "he" as in everyone. She's scared of when EVERYONE would see her true colors, what if they judge her for not being as perfect as she seems?
I also think when her "boyfriend says a mess/tramp" she means what the public assumes about most Hollywood girls. I think that by putting her boyfriend, they mean actually people who are close to her even think she's losing her touch, and that makes her feel so lifeless. ("She's a vamp")
The middle section (all of the girls); I think this is obviously these glamorous girls who really didn't have glamorous lives. I think that this is Gaga saying to let yourself lose; find your religion (Jesus), find your true artist (Stanley Kubrick).
"Together we'll dance in the dark"-- We'll all let ourselves dance, let go, together. But we will never truly be free to show our true selves to everyone.
I agree, I think that this is Fear of Confidence Monster.
This song to me is the most interesting of all the songs off of The Fame Monster. After listening to it for a while, this is what I've come up with. Sorry that this is long and a little scatterbrained. :P I'd love to hear what you all think.
And by "her", I mean the main character, not of Gaga herself.<br /> <br /> Maybe she's gone through this feeling before, though?<br /> Just a thought.
Oh wow, way to many typos. <br /> I think this is Fear of Judgement Monster.
That was brilliant haha<br /> Yes in an interview she said it was about low self-esteem, and you made it all make sense for me :)<br /> thank you!