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.
Sunday nights that you want her
Like velvet cake
Sweetheart can bargain
Half-price mistakes
She will go down with her ship
Like a good captain
You're sitting on the dock
Playing for an audience of one
Pacing your apartment
Linoleum floors
Get a call from an old friend
She never liked them before
He will drive all over three lanes
You sit tight, shotgun
Windshield wipers
Waving for an audience of one
You came out from the country
Wearing mamma's clothes
You were born in the city
Daddy's dominos
You need a record you can move to
Well we got one
Drop the needle
We are playing for an audience of one
Drop the needle
We are playing for an audience of one
One gets all of you
Two's jealous
Three gets even less
Four divides you up then you're left
Pleasing all your guests
Reach out your pointer finger
And touch the globe
Spin it round and where it stops
You've got to pack your bags and go
Land in the Mojave Desert
Sing for the sun
Three's too many when you're playing for an audience of one
Two's too busy when you're playing for an audience of one
One is the only way you're playing for an audience of one (ooh ooh ooh)
Like velvet cake
Sweetheart can bargain
Half-price mistakes
She will go down with her ship
Like a good captain
You're sitting on the dock
Playing for an audience of one
Pacing your apartment
Linoleum floors
Get a call from an old friend
She never liked them before
He will drive all over three lanes
You sit tight, shotgun
Windshield wipers
Waving for an audience of one
You came out from the country
Wearing mamma's clothes
You were born in the city
Daddy's dominos
You need a record you can move to
Well we got one
Drop the needle
We are playing for an audience of one
Drop the needle
We are playing for an audience of one
One gets all of you
Two's jealous
Three gets even less
Four divides you up then you're left
Pleasing all your guests
Reach out your pointer finger
And touch the globe
Spin it round and where it stops
You've got to pack your bags and go
Land in the Mojave Desert
Sing for the sun
Three's too many when you're playing for an audience of one
Two's too busy when you're playing for an audience of one
One is the only way you're playing for an audience of one (ooh ooh ooh)
Lyrics submitted by drego5, edited by Mellow_Harsher, dodgerblue
Audience of One Lyrics as written by Matthew Scott Maust Matthew Cole Aveiro
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Well the more that I've listened to it, I am starting to think he is talking about having sex. When you're sleeping with someone, they are your audience of one. I don't know the song just sounds so... sexy and I think this could be why. Just a thought, folks!