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.
Wade in the water about half way up
Baby said whoa that's far enough
Can't get nowhere can't get nowhere
Can't find my way from here to there
Can't get started can't get nowhere
You're a fast ball baby inside curve
I'd take a swing I ain't got the nerve
Can't get nowhere can't get nowhere
Takes me all night must be somethin' wrong
Just to do what I used to do all night long
Can't get nowhere can't get nowhere
Six-foot-four five-foot-one
Have to stand her on a chair just to get things done
Can't get nowhere can't get nowhere
There was a time I used to get on down
Now I can't seem to get off the ground
Can't get nowhere can't get nowhere
Takes me all night must be somethin' wrong
Just to do what I used to do all night long
Can't get nowhere can't get nowhere
Oh me oh my oh you what's a poor boy gonna do
Oh me oh my I can't get started and I don't know why
Can't get nowhere can't get nowhere
Can't get nowhere can't get nowhere
Can't find my way from here to there
Can't get started can't get nowhere
Baby said whoa that's far enough
Can't get nowhere can't get nowhere
Can't find my way from here to there
Can't get started can't get nowhere
You're a fast ball baby inside curve
I'd take a swing I ain't got the nerve
Can't get nowhere can't get nowhere
Takes me all night must be somethin' wrong
Just to do what I used to do all night long
Can't get nowhere can't get nowhere
Six-foot-four five-foot-one
Have to stand her on a chair just to get things done
Can't get nowhere can't get nowhere
There was a time I used to get on down
Now I can't seem to get off the ground
Can't get nowhere can't get nowhere
Takes me all night must be somethin' wrong
Just to do what I used to do all night long
Can't get nowhere can't get nowhere
Oh me oh my oh you what's a poor boy gonna do
Oh me oh my I can't get started and I don't know why
Can't get nowhere can't get nowhere
Can't get nowhere can't get nowhere
Can't find my way from here to there
Can't get started can't get nowhere
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Can't Get Nowhere Lyrics as written by Steve Ripley D.j. Fontana
Lyrics © FAST GIRL MUSIC, O/B/O DistroKid
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
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