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.
I always played you songs to say
What I never could
Other people say it better
Say it better than I would
But for every word left unsaid
I thought you understood
Oh yeah
It was easier to kiss you
Than to tell you how I feel
Oh and I don't want to lose you
But you can't see that through your tears
You're saying that I hurt you
But I had no idea
I'm doing the best a man can
To make it
But you don't believe
Believe that I am
Just 'cause you say it's so
Doesn't make it so
Singing I don't show
What I'm feeling for you
I'd rather shut my mouth
Than to spell it out
There's no doubt
When it's written all over my face
What you want me to say that I don't say
What you want when it's written all over my face
If you want we can talk about it all day
But what's to say when it's written all over my face
You're not one of my boys
You can't get inside my mind
I'm not one of your girlfriends
Who's gonna see it from your side
What you lay on the table
Well I choose to keep inside
I'm doing my best to make it
To make it
But you don't believe
Believe that I am
Just 'cause you say it's so
Doesn't make it so
Saying I don't show
What I'm feeling for you
I'd rather shut my mouth
Than spell it out
There's no doubt
When it's written all over my face
What you want me to say that I don't say
What you want, when it's written all over my face
If you want we can talk about it all day
But what's to say when it's written all over my face
When it's written all over my face
When it's written all over my face
When it's written all over my face
There's nothing wrong but communication
It's just a problem of our own creation
Sometimes love gets lost in translation
Yeah, yeah
What you want me to say that I don't say
What you want when it's written all over my face
If you want we could talk about it all day
But what's to say
When it's written all over my face
All over my face
All over my face
When it's written all over my face
All over my face
There's nothing wrong but communication
It's just a problem of our own creation
Sometimes love gets lost in translation
What I never could
Other people say it better
Say it better than I would
But for every word left unsaid
I thought you understood
Oh yeah
It was easier to kiss you
Than to tell you how I feel
Oh and I don't want to lose you
But you can't see that through your tears
You're saying that I hurt you
But I had no idea
I'm doing the best a man can
To make it
But you don't believe
Believe that I am
Just 'cause you say it's so
Doesn't make it so
Singing I don't show
What I'm feeling for you
I'd rather shut my mouth
Than to spell it out
There's no doubt
When it's written all over my face
What you want me to say that I don't say
What you want when it's written all over my face
If you want we can talk about it all day
But what's to say when it's written all over my face
You're not one of my boys
You can't get inside my mind
I'm not one of your girlfriends
Who's gonna see it from your side
What you lay on the table
Well I choose to keep inside
I'm doing my best to make it
To make it
But you don't believe
Believe that I am
Just 'cause you say it's so
Doesn't make it so
Saying I don't show
What I'm feeling for you
I'd rather shut my mouth
Than spell it out
There's no doubt
When it's written all over my face
What you want me to say that I don't say
What you want, when it's written all over my face
If you want we can talk about it all day
But what's to say when it's written all over my face
When it's written all over my face
When it's written all over my face
When it's written all over my face
There's nothing wrong but communication
It's just a problem of our own creation
Sometimes love gets lost in translation
Yeah, yeah
What you want me to say that I don't say
What you want when it's written all over my face
If you want we could talk about it all day
But what's to say
When it's written all over my face
All over my face
All over my face
When it's written all over my face
All over my face
There's nothing wrong but communication
It's just a problem of our own creation
Sometimes love gets lost in translation
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Why should I tell you I love you when it's clearly written all over my face? If I had a boyfriend who played me songs to show his love I would be complaining! haha
I WOULDN'T i mean. heh heh