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.
Talk we'll work this out
I don't need to shout
I just need to scream
So stop telling me I'm not the man that I should be
You blame me, shame me
You take it all, out on me
So stop telling me I'm not the man you should believe
If dying is your way out
Then count me in I'm coming
Maybe your difference and
And I'm so used to being a coward
It's all I've ever been
I quite before I win
You can't call for help
You can't make a scene
Stop acting out
Like you're the one that's meant to be
Take me, hate me
But you can't make me come clean
So stop telling me I'm not the man you should believe
If dying is your way out
Then count me in I'm coming
Maybe your difference and
And I'm so used to being a coward
It's all I've ever been
I quite before I win
I'd like to keep cutting
I'd like to keep cutting
But I can't stand to watch myself bleed
I'd like to keep cutting
I'd like to keep cutting
But I can't stand to watch myself bleed
I'd like to keep cutting
I'd like to keep cutting
But I can't stand to watch myself bleed
I'd like to keep cutting
I'd like to keep cutting
But I can't stand to watch myself bleed
If dying is your way out
Then count me in I'm coming
Maybe your difference and
And I'm so used to being a coward
It's all I've ever been
I quite before I win
I don't need to shout
I just need to scream
So stop telling me I'm not the man that I should be
You blame me, shame me
You take it all, out on me
So stop telling me I'm not the man you should believe
If dying is your way out
Then count me in I'm coming
Maybe your difference and
And I'm so used to being a coward
It's all I've ever been
I quite before I win
You can't call for help
You can't make a scene
Stop acting out
Like you're the one that's meant to be
Take me, hate me
But you can't make me come clean
So stop telling me I'm not the man you should believe
If dying is your way out
Then count me in I'm coming
Maybe your difference and
And I'm so used to being a coward
It's all I've ever been
I quite before I win
I'd like to keep cutting
I'd like to keep cutting
But I can't stand to watch myself bleed
I'd like to keep cutting
I'd like to keep cutting
But I can't stand to watch myself bleed
I'd like to keep cutting
I'd like to keep cutting
But I can't stand to watch myself bleed
I'd like to keep cutting
I'd like to keep cutting
But I can't stand to watch myself bleed
If dying is your way out
Then count me in I'm coming
Maybe your difference and
And I'm so used to being a coward
It's all I've ever been
I quite before I win
Lyrics submitted by theDEPTHSofDREAMS
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I hear it like this..might not be right either.
Talk won't work this out I don't need to shout I just need to scream So stop telling me I'm not the man that I should be
You blame me Shame me You take it all out on me So stop telling me I'm not the man you should believe
If dying is your way out Then count me in I'm coming May be your different spin And I'm so used to being a coward It's all I've ever been I quit before I win
Stand tall and fight this out You can't call for help You can't make a scene Stop acting out Like you're the one that's meant to be
Take me, hate me But you can't make me come clean So stop telling me I'm not the man you should believe
If dying is your way out Then count me in I'm coming May be your different spin And I'm so used to being a coward It's all I've ever been I quit before I win
I'd like to keep cutting I'd like to keep cutting But I can't stand to watch myself bleed
I'd like to keep cutting I'd like to keep cutting But I can't stand to watch myself bleed
I�d like to keep cutting I�d like to keep cutting But I can't stand to watch myself bleed
I'd like to keep cutting I'd like to keep cutting But I can't stand to watch myself bleed
If dying is your way out Then count me in I'm coming Maybe your difference and And I'm so used to being a coward It's all I've ever been I quit before I win
Actual Lyrics
Talk we'll work this out I don't need to shout I just need to scream So stop telling me I'm not the man that I should be
You blame me, shame me You take it all out on me So stop telling me I'm not the man you should believe
If dyin' is your way out Then count me in I'm coming Maybe you'll difference me And I'm so used to being a coward It's all I've ever been I quit before I win
Stand tall and fight this out You can't call for help You can't make a scene Stop acting out Like you're the one that's meant to be
So take me, hate me You can make me complete So stop telling me I'm not the man you should believe
If dyin' is your way out Then count me in I'm coming Maybe you'll difference me And I'm so used to being a coward It's all I've ever been I quit before I win
I'd like to keep cutting I'd like to keep cutting But I can't stand to watch myself bleed[x4]
If dyin' is your way out Then count me in I'm coming Maybe you'll difference me And I'm so used to being a coward It's all I've ever been I quit before I win I quit before I win I quit before I win
i really think he's saying "talk won't work this out, i don't need to share, just need to scream."
The intro lyric is,
Talk won't work this out. I don't need to shout I just need to scream So stop telling me I'm not the man that I should be
Definitely missing the "stand tall and fight this out" part of 2nd verse.
First line is absolutely "talk won't work this out."
Chorus should have the line "Maybe a different spin" instead of the "maybe your difference and." Come on, "Maybe you're difference and" doesn't even make sense in any way. Common sense, people.
Favorite song on the album, of course next to "My Swagger", but the song is obviously a reflection upon himself.
Is it just me, or do the lines "I'd like to keep cutting, but I can't stand to see myself bleed" seem intentionally backwards? Like people who cut usually WANT to stop, but feel a need to see themselves hurt/bleed. Just thought that was interesting.
The song in my opinion is about the singer Craig having a talk with himself and especially at the beginning either in his head or through a third person POV "Talk won't work this out I don't need to share I just need to scream" and how he doesn't wanna express his emotions of depression and being guilt ridden. It seems like it's a lingering voice in his head telling him that he's a coward and how he wants to "quit before he wins" as in eventually kill himself. The "I'd like to keep cutting line but I can't stand to watch myself bleed" seems like he's going crazy at that specific point and breakdown in his head before it all builds up until the final scream of "I quit before I win!!" By the end of the song he screams once again "I quit before i win" so he pretty much gave up and killed himself. It seems like a song of self-reflection more than anything and struggling to stay alive.