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.
It could all be so simple
But you'd rather make it hard
Loving you is like a battle
And we both end up with scars
Tell me, who I have to be
To get some reciprocity
No one loves you more than me
And no one ever will
Is this just a silly game
That forces you to act this way?
Forces you to scream my name
Then pretend that you can't stay
Tell me, who I have to be
To get some reciprocity
No one loves you more than me
And no one ever will
No matter how I think we grow
You always seem to let me know
It ain't workin', It ain't workin' (No, it ain't workin')
And when I try to walk away
You'd hurt yourself to make me stay
This is crazy, this is crazy (This is crazy, uh-huh)
I keep letting you back in
How can I explain myself?
As painful as this thing has been
I just can't be with no one else
See I know what we've got to do
You let go, and I'll let go too
'Cause no one's hurt me more than you
And no one ever will
No matter how I think we grow
You always seem to let me know
It ain't workin', It ain't workin' (It ain't workin')
And when I try to walk away
You'd hurt yourself to make me stay
This is crazy, this is crazy
Care for me, care for me
I know you care for me
There for me, there for me
Said you'd be there for me
Cry for me, cry for me
You said you'd die for me
Give to me, give to me
Why won't you live for me?
Care for me, care for me
You said you care for me
There for me, there for me
Said you'd be there for me
Cry for me, cry for me
You said you'd die for me
Give to me, give to me
Why won't you live for me?
Care for me, care for me
You said you care for me
There for me, there for me
Said you'd be there for me
Cry for me, cry for me
You said you'd die for me
Give to me, give to me
Why won't you live for me?
Care for me, care for me
You said you care for me
There for me, there for me
Said you'd be there for me
Give to me, give to me
Why won't you live for me?
Cry for me, cry for me
You said you'd die for me
But you'd rather make it hard
Loving you is like a battle
And we both end up with scars
Tell me, who I have to be
To get some reciprocity
No one loves you more than me
And no one ever will
Is this just a silly game
That forces you to act this way?
Forces you to scream my name
Then pretend that you can't stay
Tell me, who I have to be
To get some reciprocity
No one loves you more than me
And no one ever will
No matter how I think we grow
You always seem to let me know
It ain't workin', It ain't workin' (No, it ain't workin')
And when I try to walk away
You'd hurt yourself to make me stay
This is crazy, this is crazy (This is crazy, uh-huh)
I keep letting you back in
How can I explain myself?
As painful as this thing has been
I just can't be with no one else
See I know what we've got to do
You let go, and I'll let go too
'Cause no one's hurt me more than you
And no one ever will
No matter how I think we grow
You always seem to let me know
It ain't workin', It ain't workin' (It ain't workin')
And when I try to walk away
You'd hurt yourself to make me stay
This is crazy, this is crazy
Care for me, care for me
I know you care for me
There for me, there for me
Said you'd be there for me
Cry for me, cry for me
You said you'd die for me
Give to me, give to me
Why won't you live for me?
Care for me, care for me
You said you care for me
There for me, there for me
Said you'd be there for me
Cry for me, cry for me
You said you'd die for me
Give to me, give to me
Why won't you live for me?
Care for me, care for me
You said you care for me
There for me, there for me
Said you'd be there for me
Cry for me, cry for me
You said you'd die for me
Give to me, give to me
Why won't you live for me?
Care for me, care for me
You said you care for me
There for me, there for me
Said you'd be there for me
Give to me, give to me
Why won't you live for me?
Cry for me, cry for me
You said you'd die for me
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Ex-Factor Lyrics as written by Alan Bergman Lauryn Hill
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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i think its a relationship where one person keeps trying to leave and whenever they do; the other person tries to fix it, but they never do. so shes always finds herself trying to leave but when she does, she gets caught up with his lies of fixing it. but she can never leave too because she loves him so much.
This song is about a viscious cycle of emotional abuse.
"Loving you is like a battle And we both end up with scars"
You give this person your all but they wont do the same.
"Tell me, who I have to be To get some reciprocity"
Its about trying to detach your heart and mind so you can move on. But the other person knows exactly what to say and do to keep you around. (ANNOYING) lol
"And when I try to walk away You'd hurt yourself to make me stay"
In the end Ms. Hill is asking the other person why dont they do what they said they'd do for her.
"Care for me, care for me! I know you care for me!
"There for me, there for me! Said you'd be there for me!
Cry for me, cry for me! You said you'd die for me!
Give to me, give to me! Why won't you live for me?! "
I can sooo relate!
lauryn can narrate the goings on of my heart on a day-to-day basis. for that, in itself, she is amazing........
It could all be so simple but you'd rather make it hard
Isn't that just life?! I swear, at least in my experience, guys always have to make it so difficult when it really doesnt need to be.
tell me, who i have to be to get some reciprocity
I find i can really relate to this too. Its about when you start wondering what you have to do, what you have to change and who you have to be for him to feel the same way and reciprocate your feelings.
And when Lauryn sings
No matter how I think we grow you always seem to let me know it ain't workin' it ain't workin'
it makes me remember times when I've thought that we were getting better, that we were working, but its not good enough for some reason, and something isnt right for you.
Lauryn = Genius.
i love this song. I apply it to a personal relationship i have had in the past. Its a very sad song when the lyrics are read because its about a relationship that basically will never be a good one, and she is still pinning for this guy. But a great song, none the less.
i love this song. she puts so much emotion into it. when i hear her sing it, it makes me want to cry
this song is an example of love trying 2 hold on 2 visions and idealogies of what used 2 be. it is a testiment 2 the power of love which at times, can be a one way street. it hurts when the one u love doesn't share your passions or your feelings. it is crazy!
I come from a very small country as far away from Lauryn as we could probably get. This song affected me because I realised that the issues in love that I face are worldwide. There is no barrier on gender, income, race or sexuality when it comes to matters of the heart. This song to me confronts not only the physical abuse but the emotional abuse in the lyric that says "And when I try to walk away you'd hurt yourself to make me stay, This is crazy" . When you are in it you know that it is all insane but not even that provides an exit. Also the lyrics "Cry for me,cry for me, you said you'd die for me, Give to me,give to me, why wont you live for me" Is a true expression of not knowing what you've got till its gone. If you are willing to give your life for someone why wouldn't you live your life for that person.
this song is so painful, but its so beautiful because in some cases its true. This is the perfect song for me and an ex-boyfriends song. We broke up a year and a half ago but i still feel that the song is perfect for our crazy relationship.
this is my favorite song