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 need an answer
Some way to understand
This feels so convincing
And a little outta hand
So tell me one thing
Who gave you all those scars
That took away your innocence
You push away with everything you are
I can't take this anymore
I'm tired of breaking
I'm tired of breaking
I want the world to see
You sold a broken dream
You were not there for me
I was unraveling
All that we never knew
That could have been me and you
But you took everything
Now we're just here Unraveling
So here we are now
Break what's already broken
I guess I coulda seen this coming
If you'd been around
Lets tear the past wide open
I can't take this anymore
I'm tired of breaking
I'm tired of breaking
I want the world to see
You sold a broken dream
You were not there for me
I was Unraveling
All that we never knew
That could have been me and you
But you took everything
Now we're just here Unraveling
What have we become
The hopeless tonight and I think its over
We hope to find the truth still breathing
Can we survive the low
I want the world to see
You sold a broken dream
You were not there for me
I was unraveling
I want the world to see
You sold a broken dream
You were not there for me
I was unraveling
All that we never knew
That could have been me and you
But you took everything
Now we're just here unraveling
Some way to understand
This feels so convincing
And a little outta hand
So tell me one thing
Who gave you all those scars
That took away your innocence
You push away with everything you are
I can't take this anymore
I'm tired of breaking
I'm tired of breaking
I want the world to see
You sold a broken dream
You were not there for me
I was unraveling
All that we never knew
That could have been me and you
But you took everything
Now we're just here Unraveling
So here we are now
Break what's already broken
I guess I coulda seen this coming
If you'd been around
Lets tear the past wide open
I can't take this anymore
I'm tired of breaking
I'm tired of breaking
I want the world to see
You sold a broken dream
You were not there for me
I was Unraveling
All that we never knew
That could have been me and you
But you took everything
Now we're just here Unraveling
What have we become
The hopeless tonight and I think its over
We hope to find the truth still breathing
Can we survive the low
I want the world to see
You sold a broken dream
You were not there for me
I was unraveling
I want the world to see
You sold a broken dream
You were not there for me
I was unraveling
All that we never knew
That could have been me and you
But you took everything
Now we're just here unraveling
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This song to me is about someone (most likely a girl because you girls are CRAZY! with your feelings) who is so plagued by their past relationship(s) that those insecurities have ruined what could have been the best relationship in your life. How do I know this? Because I just got out of a relationship that was 100% effort on my part and 0% effort on her part. She sold a broken dream, and she was the one who broke the dream. I stood through all of the crap, all of the issues all of the uncertainty only to get cheated on basically. So this song means a lot to me and the lyrics fit like a glove for the situation that happened to me.
Who gave you all those scars? And took away your innocence You push away with everything you are
This is perfect because her past relationship was what ruined our relationship and I want to know who gave her all those scars that took away her innocence. I wanted to change her life for the better but now she pushes away with everything she is