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.
Why...
Why...
How many times do I have to try and tell you
That I'm sorry for the things I've done
But when I start to try to tell you
That's when you have to tell me
Hey
This kind of trouble's only just begun
(Only just begun)
I tell myself too many times
Why don't you ever learn
To keep your big mouth shut
That's why it hurts so bad to hear the words
Falling from your mouth
Falling from your mouth
Tell me
Why...
Why...
I may be mad, I may be blind
I may be viciously unkind
But I can still read what you're thinking
Let's go down to the water's edge
And we can cast away those doubts
Some things are better left unsaid
But they still turn me inside out
Turning inside out
Turning inside out
Tell me
Why...
Why...
Tell me
Why...
Why...
This is the book I never read
These are the words I never said
This is the path I'll never tread
These are the dreams I'll dream instead
This is the joy that summers bring
These are the tears we shared
This is the fear, this is the dread
A lot of conscience off my head
And these are the years that we have spent
And this is what they represent
And this is how I feel
Do you know how I feel
(Why...)
Don't think you know how I feel
I said think you know what I feel
Why...
Why...
Why...
How many times do I have to try and tell you
That I'm sorry for the things I've done
But when I start to try to tell you
That's when you have to tell me
Hey
This kind of trouble's only just begun
(Only just begun)
I tell myself too many times
Why don't you ever learn
To keep your big mouth shut
That's why it hurts so bad to hear the words
Falling from your mouth
Falling from your mouth
Tell me
Why...
Why...
I may be mad, I may be blind
I may be viciously unkind
But I can still read what you're thinking
Let's go down to the water's edge
And we can cast away those doubts
Some things are better left unsaid
But they still turn me inside out
Turning inside out
Turning inside out
Tell me
Why...
Why...
Tell me
Why...
Why...
This is the book I never read
These are the words I never said
This is the path I'll never tread
These are the dreams I'll dream instead
This is the joy that summers bring
These are the tears we shared
This is the fear, this is the dread
A lot of conscience off my head
And these are the years that we have spent
And this is what they represent
And this is how I feel
Do you know how I feel
(Why...)
Don't think you know how I feel
I said think you know what I feel
Why...
Why...
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Why Lyrics as written by Lynford Marshall Collin W. York
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, O/B/O DistroKid, Royalty Network, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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“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.