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.
Gonna make a heart-throb out of me
Just a bit of minor surgery
These desperate times call for desperate measures
I'll give you something to cry about
Show some skin, and would be, catch it
How could you let this get to desperate measures now?
For a first effort this,
Feels kinda last ditch
I guess this just
Got kinda drastic
Trust us you just fell off the bus, baby
I can't let this, I can't let this, I can't let this go
I can't let this, I can't let this go
(Desperate measures) I can't let this, I can't let this go
When I got you right where I want you
I been pushing for this for so long
Kiss me, just once, for luck
These are desperate measures now
I can't let this, I can't let this go
Have a piece of American dream
Open up, and swallow, on your knees
And say Thank you
I'd like some desperate measures, please
For a first effort this,
Feels kinda last ditch
I guess this just
Got kinda drastic
Trust us, you just fell off the bus, suckers
Yeah, well, payback is a mother fucker
I can't let this, I can't let this go
(Desperate measures) I can't let this, I can't let this go
When I got you right where I want you
I been pushing for this for so long
Kiss me, just once, for luck
These are desperate measures now
I can't let this, I can't let this go
Forever, for worse or better
My poor heart will only surrender
Go forever, for worse or better
My poor heart will only surrender, now
(Desperate measures) I can't let this, I can't let this go
When I got you right where I want you
I been pushing for this for so long
Kiss me, just once, for luck
These are desperate measures now
(Desperate measure now)
I can't let this, I can't let this go
When I got you right where I want you
I been pushing for this for so long
Kiss me, just once, for luck
These are desperate measures now
(Desperate measure now)
I can't let this, I can't let this go
Just a bit of minor surgery
These desperate times call for desperate measures
I'll give you something to cry about
Show some skin, and would be, catch it
How could you let this get to desperate measures now?
For a first effort this,
Feels kinda last ditch
I guess this just
Got kinda drastic
Trust us you just fell off the bus, baby
I can't let this, I can't let this, I can't let this go
I can't let this, I can't let this go
(Desperate measures) I can't let this, I can't let this go
When I got you right where I want you
I been pushing for this for so long
Kiss me, just once, for luck
These are desperate measures now
I can't let this, I can't let this go
Have a piece of American dream
Open up, and swallow, on your knees
And say Thank you
I'd like some desperate measures, please
For a first effort this,
Feels kinda last ditch
I guess this just
Got kinda drastic
Trust us, you just fell off the bus, suckers
Yeah, well, payback is a mother fucker
I can't let this, I can't let this go
(Desperate measures) I can't let this, I can't let this go
When I got you right where I want you
I been pushing for this for so long
Kiss me, just once, for luck
These are desperate measures now
I can't let this, I can't let this go
Forever, for worse or better
My poor heart will only surrender
Go forever, for worse or better
My poor heart will only surrender, now
(Desperate measures) I can't let this, I can't let this go
When I got you right where I want you
I been pushing for this for so long
Kiss me, just once, for luck
These are desperate measures now
(Desperate measure now)
I can't let this, I can't let this go
When I got you right where I want you
I been pushing for this for so long
Kiss me, just once, for luck
These are desperate measures now
(Desperate measure now)
I can't let this, I can't let this go
Lyrics submitted by xalixo, edited by VerSupreme
Desperate Measures Lyrics as written by Chuck Jones Gregory K. Swint
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song almost feels like a sequel or companion to Celebrity Status. Far from it being about a relationship or anything of the sort, it's referring to two seperate stories - one of a boy and one of a girl who went a little bit too far.
The first section refers to a male (due to the heart throb statement) undertaking plastic surgery to become more attractive where the second refers to a female (or really, it could be a male I suppose) performing sexual favours to get work/forward in the industry and at the same time, being expected to be thankful about this.
In both cases, the people wanted fame/money/whatever motivated them so much that they lost sight of everything else. The statement "You just fell off the bus" alludes to the idea of the "wheels coming off the bus", referring to when something is pushed too hard.. it eventually breaks, this is backed up by the line "I've been pushing for this for so long."
He wants her so bad and he's be trying so hard, and now that he's got her right where he wants her, he's going to seize the chance. "My poor heart can only surrender." Maybe she was his bestfriend and made a 'hearthrob' out of him, gave him a makeover and made him into the guy everyone wants. All the girls who didnt want him, well who cares about them "You just fell off the bus suckers, yeah well payback's a mother-fucker!" And he cant let that go. But he's going for his bestfriend, the girl he fell in love with.
This song almost feels like a sequel or companion to Celebrity Status. Far from it being about a relationship or anything of the sort, it's referring to two seperate stories - one of a boy and one of a girl who went a little bit too far.
The first section refers to a male (due to the heart throb statement) undertaking plastic surgery to become more attractive where the second refers to a female (or really, it could be a male I suppose) performing sexual favours to get work/forward in the industry and at the same time, being expected to be thankful about this.
In both cases, the people wanted fame/money/whatever motivated them so much that they lost sight of everything else. The statement "You just fell off the bus" alludes to the idea of the "wheels coming off the bus", referring to when something is pushed too hard.. it eventually breaks, this is backed up by the line "I've been pushing for this for so long."