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 saw the work you did
Can't stop myself from laughing
One word diastrous
No point in even trying
I saw the labor slave
For weeks without you sleeping
There's nothing here to save
So go on with your weeping
Cause men don't shed no tears
(Ain't gonna shed no tears, no)
Cause men don't shed no tears
(Ain't gonna shed no tears no more)
Cause men don't shed no tears
(Ain't gonna shed no tears)
Cause men don't shed no tears
Go and break your nose
Add some scars and watch it grow
Spit out through your teeth and laugh at your pain
Go and kill your food
Cuss and curse and act a fool
So much work to do it hurts me to say
...Slave
You're labeled sensitive
By choice and not no matter
The crying shoulder cares
The mushy heart that splattes
Shamed your ancestry, the hunters and the gatherers
So you can cry their names
And go on with your weeping
Cause men don't shed no tears
(Ain't gonna shed no tears, no)
Cause men don't shed no tears
(Ain't gonna shed no tears no more)
Cause men don't shed no tears
(Ain't gonna shed no tears)
Cause men don't shed no tears
Go and break your nose
Add some scars and watch it grow
Spit out through your teeth and laugh at your pain
Go and kill your food
Cussin and a-cursin and act a fool
So much work to do it hurts me to say....
Work you did, work you do
Work you did, work you do
Work you did, work you do
Work you did, work you do
You could turn a town into a city
But you can't make it civilized
And you might think a friend is a foe
But you can't make him walk your line
And you might say that a man is a monkey
But a monkey won't ever lie
And you could change a million minds
But don't you fuck with mine
It's not your life
So sacrifice
It's not your life
So sacrifice
It's not your life
It's not your life
It's not your life
You might turn a town into a city
But you can't make it civilized
And you might think a friend is a foe
But you can't make him walk down
Walk down your line
And you might say that a man is a monkey
But a monkey won't ever lie
And you could change a million minds
But don't you fuck with mine
It's not your life
So sacrifice
It's not your life
So sacrifice
It's not your life
It's not your life
It's not your life
Can't stop myself from laughing
One word diastrous
No point in even trying
I saw the labor slave
For weeks without you sleeping
There's nothing here to save
So go on with your weeping
Cause men don't shed no tears
(Ain't gonna shed no tears, no)
Cause men don't shed no tears
(Ain't gonna shed no tears no more)
Cause men don't shed no tears
(Ain't gonna shed no tears)
Cause men don't shed no tears
Go and break your nose
Add some scars and watch it grow
Spit out through your teeth and laugh at your pain
Go and kill your food
Cuss and curse and act a fool
So much work to do it hurts me to say
...Slave
You're labeled sensitive
By choice and not no matter
The crying shoulder cares
The mushy heart that splattes
Shamed your ancestry, the hunters and the gatherers
So you can cry their names
And go on with your weeping
Cause men don't shed no tears
(Ain't gonna shed no tears, no)
Cause men don't shed no tears
(Ain't gonna shed no tears no more)
Cause men don't shed no tears
(Ain't gonna shed no tears)
Cause men don't shed no tears
Go and break your nose
Add some scars and watch it grow
Spit out through your teeth and laugh at your pain
Go and kill your food
Cussin and a-cursin and act a fool
So much work to do it hurts me to say....
Work you did, work you do
Work you did, work you do
Work you did, work you do
Work you did, work you do
You could turn a town into a city
But you can't make it civilized
And you might think a friend is a foe
But you can't make him walk your line
And you might say that a man is a monkey
But a monkey won't ever lie
And you could change a million minds
But don't you fuck with mine
It's not your life
So sacrifice
It's not your life
So sacrifice
It's not your life
It's not your life
It's not your life
You might turn a town into a city
But you can't make it civilized
And you might think a friend is a foe
But you can't make him walk down
Walk down your line
And you might say that a man is a monkey
But a monkey won't ever lie
And you could change a million minds
But don't you fuck with mine
It's not your life
So sacrifice
It's not your life
So sacrifice
It's not your life
It's not your life
It's not your life
Lyrics submitted by champagnejane
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