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.
Things have come to a pretty pass
Our romance is growing flat
For you like this and the other
While I go for this and that
Goodness knows what the end will be
Oh I don't know where I'm at
It looks as if we two will never be one
Something must be done
You say either and I say either
You say neither and I say neither
Either, either neither, neither
Let's call the whole thing off
You like potato and I like potahto
You like tomato and I like tomahto
Potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto
Let's call the whole thing off
But oh, if we call the whole thing off
Then we must part
And oh, if we ever part
then that might break my heart
So if you like pyjamas and I like pyjahmas
I'll wear pyjamas and give up pyajahmas
For we know we need each other so we
Better call the whole thing off
Let's call the whole thing off
You say laughter and I say larfter
You say after and I say arfter
Laughter, larfter after arfter
Let's call the whole thing off
You like vanilla and I like vanella
You saspiralla, and I saspirella
Vanilla vanella chocolate strawberry
Let's call the whole thing off
But oh if we call the whole thing off
then we must part
And oh, if we ever part,
then that might break my heart
So if you go for oysters and I go for ersters
I'll order oysters and cancel the ersters
For we know we need each other so we
Better call the calling off off
Let's call the whole thing off
You say either (and you say either)
You say neither (and you say neither)
Either, (either), neither (neither)
Let's call the whole thing off
You like potato (and you like potahto)
You like tomato (and you like tomahto)
Potato (potahto), tomato (tomahto)
Let's call the whole thing off
But oh, if we call the whole thing off
Then we must part
And oh, if we ever part
then that might break my heart
So if you like pyjamas (pyjahmas)
I'll wear pyjamas (you got pyajahmas)
For we know we need each other so we
Better call the calling off off
Let's call the whole thing off
Let's call the whole thing off
Our romance is growing flat
For you like this and the other
While I go for this and that
Goodness knows what the end will be
Oh I don't know where I'm at
It looks as if we two will never be one
Something must be done
You say either and I say either
You say neither and I say neither
Either, either neither, neither
Let's call the whole thing off
You like potato and I like potahto
You like tomato and I like tomahto
Potato, potahto, tomato, tomahto
Let's call the whole thing off
But oh, if we call the whole thing off
Then we must part
And oh, if we ever part
then that might break my heart
So if you like pyjamas and I like pyjahmas
I'll wear pyjamas and give up pyajahmas
For we know we need each other so we
Better call the whole thing off
Let's call the whole thing off
You say laughter and I say larfter
You say after and I say arfter
Laughter, larfter after arfter
Let's call the whole thing off
You like vanilla and I like vanella
You saspiralla, and I saspirella
Vanilla vanella chocolate strawberry
Let's call the whole thing off
But oh if we call the whole thing off
then we must part
And oh, if we ever part,
then that might break my heart
So if you go for oysters and I go for ersters
I'll order oysters and cancel the ersters
For we know we need each other so we
Better call the calling off off
Let's call the whole thing off
You say either (and you say either)
You say neither (and you say neither)
Either, (either), neither (neither)
Let's call the whole thing off
You like potato (and you like potahto)
You like tomato (and you like tomahto)
Potato (potahto), tomato (tomahto)
Let's call the whole thing off
But oh, if we call the whole thing off
Then we must part
And oh, if we ever part
then that might break my heart
So if you like pyjamas (pyjahmas)
I'll wear pyjamas (you got pyajahmas)
For we know we need each other so we
Better call the calling off off
Let's call the whole thing off
Let's call the whole thing off
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Louis Armstrong and Fred Astaire also sang this. I'm not sure who wrote it and who first performed it, though. It's a classic, and it was very popular decades ago. Obviously it's about a couple who are very different and who seldom agree on anything. At the end they can't even agree on calling off the relationship because they claim they "need" each other. It's a fascinating tune about human nature and how opposites not only attract, but they often complement each other.
This written in sarcasm.. lol Let's call the whole thing off, is the opposite of what this song means. This song means the singer loves the other person so much they could care less what either one of them likes or how different they are or how they speak is.. That's why he says at the end if you like pyjamas then that's what they'll be basically.. lol It's two people in love who have a hard time agreeing sometimes, likely because each one is stubborn in their own ways, and so when they meet they keep finding dumb reasons I think to call it quits at first maybe.. but the singer realizes that's stupid because truly they need each other so they could never call the whole thing off.. and he says if they did call it off he would be heart broken entirely, so he sarcastically says since they need each other that much they obviously should just call the whole thing off.. he's illustrating how stupid they have been in the past to the girl.. using sarcasm, and humor that's all. They love each other and they'll never call the whole thing off. lol