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.
Oh, I need a witness to see the mess I've made
There's a broken lampshade, ashtrays, burnt floors, beds unmade
Eyes sleeping if you are dream, dream of what I'm doing
To you, undo you, I'm through with you until I need a round of
Every time I spend myself it never runs too low, whoa whoa
I can't escape my need for
Sex and violence
Never meant you see them hand in hand
One is with the other
The softest touches, deeper than the ocean
Give it to me faster, feel it, feel it
Sex and violence
Who is gonna make you cry?
(Sex and violence)
Sex and violence
Who is gonna make you cry?
(Sex and violence)
Oh, I was a real man stealing all the trade
I was strong and self-made, well-paid, so groomed, persuasive
You were walking home that night, too kind to be illusive
Where do you live? What do you give? Who are you with?
And how you getting home?
Does everybody know right now exactly where you are? Whoa
Step inside's a step too far but
Sex and violence
Hit me with a lover, burns so bright
And one is just the other
Sweetest tastes, never gonna leave you
Even when it hurts you, breathe it, breathe it
Sex and violence
Who is gonna make you cry?
(Sex and violence)
Sex and violence
Who is gonna make you cry?
(Sex and violence)
Violence, violence
Violence, violence
Violence, violence
Violence, violence
Sex and violence
Never meant you see them hand in hand
One is with the other
The softest touches, deeper than the ocean
Give it to me faster, feel it, feel it
Sex and violence
Hit me with a lover, burns so bright
And one is just the other
Sweetest tastes, never gonna leave you
Even when it hurts you, breathe it, breathe it
Violence, violence
Violence, violence
Violence, violence
Violence, violence
There's a broken lampshade, ashtrays, burnt floors, beds unmade
Eyes sleeping if you are dream, dream of what I'm doing
To you, undo you, I'm through with you until I need a round of
Every time I spend myself it never runs too low, whoa whoa
I can't escape my need for
Sex and violence
Never meant you see them hand in hand
One is with the other
The softest touches, deeper than the ocean
Give it to me faster, feel it, feel it
Sex and violence
Who is gonna make you cry?
(Sex and violence)
Sex and violence
Who is gonna make you cry?
(Sex and violence)
Oh, I was a real man stealing all the trade
I was strong and self-made, well-paid, so groomed, persuasive
You were walking home that night, too kind to be illusive
Where do you live? What do you give? Who are you with?
And how you getting home?
Does everybody know right now exactly where you are? Whoa
Step inside's a step too far but
Sex and violence
Hit me with a lover, burns so bright
And one is just the other
Sweetest tastes, never gonna leave you
Even when it hurts you, breathe it, breathe it
Sex and violence
Who is gonna make you cry?
(Sex and violence)
Sex and violence
Who is gonna make you cry?
(Sex and violence)
Violence, violence
Violence, violence
Violence, violence
Violence, violence
Sex and violence
Never meant you see them hand in hand
One is with the other
The softest touches, deeper than the ocean
Give it to me faster, feel it, feel it
Sex and violence
Hit me with a lover, burns so bright
And one is just the other
Sweetest tastes, never gonna leave you
Even when it hurts you, breathe it, breathe it
Violence, violence
Violence, violence
Violence, violence
Violence, violence
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I kinda get that this song is about how sex and violence can often be one in the same, but not in the best way (rape, abuse, etc). Not sure - it just seems like a sad song.
I think he used to be a prostitute (being persuasive and "stealing all of their trade" from the other male prostitutes). He is looking back at a time when he had power over his Johns (maybe because he was into rough trade/S&M, but it could just be that he felt powerful from getting men to go with him because he was desirable).
Now, either he's just looking for hook ups or he is in a relationship, but he can't let go of the past- he still wants to be in control; still has the urge to be violent in his sexual encounters, and either his partner is sort of new to the experience or is just going along with it (the fact that they are passed out). But he wants a witness to his brutality... he needs someone that he can control.
Kinky and fantastic.
To me it seems to be about a man who knows he had a tendency to go too far. He feels like he can't control himself, he needs (persuasive) sex and violence in his life.