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.
When you talk all I hear is
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
When you talk all I hear is
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Girls like you give girls a bad name
Trying to get a boy but you sound so lame
Thinking it's cute to act real dumb
But the jokes on you, you stupid hun
Hold up, you're making no sense
You're talking out your ass
Like a waffle head, you bobblehead
Just keep your trap shut like your mama said
Why, oh, why pretend?
I know you got a brain, why don't you use it?
Why, oh, why pretend?
If you so smart, why you act brain dead
When you talk all I hear is
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
When you talk all I hear is
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
But wait, like I don't get it
He, he, ha I don't care what you looking at?
Body so skinny but your head's so fat
Talky, talky, talky but you don't say shit
Got a way with words, you give me nothing, bitch
Banging on the door, nobody else there
You nightmare on Elm Street got everybody scared
Making me wanna run when you coming around
Because it's a frightening sound
Why, oh, why pretend?
I know you got a brain, why don't you use it?
Why, oh, why pretend?
If you so smart, why you act brain dead
When you talk all I hear is
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
When you talk all I hear is
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
But wait, like, like what like, like what?
I don't get it, like what, what really?
Hanging with the girls makes you feel unsure
So you hang with the boys, makes you feel secure
Act all catty 'cause you hate competition
Bobble like a sheep on your airhead mission
Laugh in you face but behind your back
They say "I kinda like her booty but the girl is whack"
You see the boys, the boys they love me
Think you're a pain in your butt? Know what? You're crazy.
Why, oh, why pretend?
I know you got a brain, why don't you use it?
Why, oh, why pretend?
If you so smart, why you act brain dead
When you talk all I hear is
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
When you talk all I hear is
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
When you talk all I hear is
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
When you talk all I hear is
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
And the real girls all say I never play dumb
To get what I want
And always come out the one
That's on top
I never play dumb
To get what I want
And always come out the one
That's on top
I never play dumb
To get what I want
And always come out the one
That's on top
I never play dumb
To get what I want
And always come out the one
That's on top
I donâ??t get it
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
When you talk all I hear is
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Girls like you give girls a bad name
Trying to get a boy but you sound so lame
Thinking it's cute to act real dumb
But the jokes on you, you stupid hun
Hold up, you're making no sense
You're talking out your ass
Like a waffle head, you bobblehead
Just keep your trap shut like your mama said
Why, oh, why pretend?
I know you got a brain, why don't you use it?
Why, oh, why pretend?
If you so smart, why you act brain dead
When you talk all I hear is
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
When you talk all I hear is
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
But wait, like I don't get it
He, he, ha I don't care what you looking at?
Body so skinny but your head's so fat
Talky, talky, talky but you don't say shit
Got a way with words, you give me nothing, bitch
Banging on the door, nobody else there
You nightmare on Elm Street got everybody scared
Making me wanna run when you coming around
Because it's a frightening sound
Why, oh, why pretend?
I know you got a brain, why don't you use it?
Why, oh, why pretend?
If you so smart, why you act brain dead
When you talk all I hear is
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
When you talk all I hear is
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
But wait, like, like what like, like what?
I don't get it, like what, what really?
Hanging with the girls makes you feel unsure
So you hang with the boys, makes you feel secure
Act all catty 'cause you hate competition
Bobble like a sheep on your airhead mission
Laugh in you face but behind your back
They say "I kinda like her booty but the girl is whack"
You see the boys, the boys they love me
Think you're a pain in your butt? Know what? You're crazy.
Why, oh, why pretend?
I know you got a brain, why don't you use it?
Why, oh, why pretend?
If you so smart, why you act brain dead
When you talk all I hear is
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
When you talk all I hear is
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
When you talk all I hear is
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
When you talk all I hear is
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah
And the real girls all say I never play dumb
To get what I want
And always come out the one
That's on top
I never play dumb
To get what I want
And always come out the one
That's on top
I never play dumb
To get what I want
And always come out the one
That's on top
I never play dumb
To get what I want
And always come out the one
That's on top
I donâ??t get it
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