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.
She said that she's got something else on her mind
I'm spending my money, but I'm wasting time
It looks to me like the end of the line
Well, she plays both sides and she's making me choose
It's heads, she wins, and tails I lose
Each time I call, it's another excuse
I thought I was finally doin' everything right
Now it looks like I'm the one left lonely tonight
I picked the wrong side of love
And I wound up on the losin' end
The wrong side of love
Now I'm starting all over again
She makes me feel like I'm out of control
She comes on hot but she turns ice cold
Her light says stop when I'm ready to go...go
She set me up, now she's puttin' me down
Sometimes I feel like a face in the crowd
One day I'm in, the next day I'm out
I thought I was finally doin' everything right
Now it looks like I'm the one left lonely tonight
I picked the wrong side of love
And I wound up on the losin' end
The wrong side of love
Now I'm starting all over again
I picked the wrong side of love
Right place, wrong time
The wrong side of love
Well honey, point me in the right direction
I thought I was finally doin' everything right
Now it looks like I'm the one left lonely tonight
I picked the wrong side of love
And I wound up on the losin' end
The wrong side of love
Now I'm starting all over again
I picked the wrong side of love
And I wound up on the losin' end
The wrong side of love
Now I'm starting all over again
I picked the wrong side of love
Is there a bad side to love?
I picked the wrong side of love
The wrong side of love
I picked the wrong side of love
Is there a bad side to love?
I picked the wrong side of love
I picked the wrong side of love
I picked the wrong side of love
I'm spending my money, but I'm wasting time
It looks to me like the end of the line
Well, she plays both sides and she's making me choose
It's heads, she wins, and tails I lose
Each time I call, it's another excuse
I thought I was finally doin' everything right
Now it looks like I'm the one left lonely tonight
I picked the wrong side of love
And I wound up on the losin' end
The wrong side of love
Now I'm starting all over again
She makes me feel like I'm out of control
She comes on hot but she turns ice cold
Her light says stop when I'm ready to go...go
She set me up, now she's puttin' me down
Sometimes I feel like a face in the crowd
One day I'm in, the next day I'm out
I thought I was finally doin' everything right
Now it looks like I'm the one left lonely tonight
I picked the wrong side of love
And I wound up on the losin' end
The wrong side of love
Now I'm starting all over again
I picked the wrong side of love
Right place, wrong time
The wrong side of love
Well honey, point me in the right direction
I thought I was finally doin' everything right
Now it looks like I'm the one left lonely tonight
I picked the wrong side of love
And I wound up on the losin' end
The wrong side of love
Now I'm starting all over again
I picked the wrong side of love
And I wound up on the losin' end
The wrong side of love
Now I'm starting all over again
I picked the wrong side of love
Is there a bad side to love?
I picked the wrong side of love
The wrong side of love
I picked the wrong side of love
Is there a bad side to love?
I picked the wrong side of love
I picked the wrong side of love
I picked the wrong side of love
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Wrong Side of Love Lyrics as written by Nielsen Cerney
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.