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.
When I walk down the hall
I hold my head up high
Everybody's looking, doesn't mean they like me
Its not so great to stand out from the crowd
I'm an easy target
They know where to find me
Run a race an' I win it
Solve your problem in a minute
It's not a mystery why I'm a misfit
Here's what's bad about being good
Nobody thanks you when they should
Do a job right respect, I mean
Why can't they just see me for me?
Walking with my lunch tray passing table after table
Nobody makes room, everyone avoids me
People everywhere, but I feel so alone here
"oh she thinks she's perfect?"
"yeah, a perfect misfit"
Run a race an' I win it
Solve your problem in a minute
Its not a mystery why I'm a misfit
Its not the way I want to be
Here's what's bad about being good
Nobody thanks you when they should
Do a job right respect, I mean
Why can't they just see me for me?
Here's what's bad about being good
Nobody thanks you when they should
Do a job right respect, I mean
Why can't they just see me for me?
I hold my head up high
Everybody's looking
Doesn't mean they like me
Run a race an' win it
Solve your problem in a minute
Its not a mystery, I'm no misfit
This is the way I'm gonna be (this is the way I'm gonna be)
Here's what bad about being good
Nobody thanks you when they should
Set a bar high respect, I mean
Why can't they just see me for me?
Here's what's bad about being good
Nobody likes you like they should
Work so hard, why can't they see?
Wish they'd just appreciate me?
Here's what's good about me
Here's what's good about me
I hold my head up high
Everybody's looking, doesn't mean they like me
Its not so great to stand out from the crowd
I'm an easy target
They know where to find me
Run a race an' I win it
Solve your problem in a minute
It's not a mystery why I'm a misfit
Here's what's bad about being good
Nobody thanks you when they should
Do a job right respect, I mean
Why can't they just see me for me?
Walking with my lunch tray passing table after table
Nobody makes room, everyone avoids me
People everywhere, but I feel so alone here
"oh she thinks she's perfect?"
"yeah, a perfect misfit"
Run a race an' I win it
Solve your problem in a minute
Its not a mystery why I'm a misfit
Its not the way I want to be
Here's what's bad about being good
Nobody thanks you when they should
Do a job right respect, I mean
Why can't they just see me for me?
Here's what's bad about being good
Nobody thanks you when they should
Do a job right respect, I mean
Why can't they just see me for me?
I hold my head up high
Everybody's looking
Doesn't mean they like me
Run a race an' win it
Solve your problem in a minute
Its not a mystery, I'm no misfit
This is the way I'm gonna be (this is the way I'm gonna be)
Here's what bad about being good
Nobody thanks you when they should
Set a bar high respect, I mean
Why can't they just see me for me?
Here's what's bad about being good
Nobody likes you like they should
Work so hard, why can't they see?
Wish they'd just appreciate me?
Here's what's good about me
Here's what's good about me
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Perfect Misfit Lyrics as written by Sall Phair
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
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.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Blue
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Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
It's about a girl who wants to know why people can't see her for who she really is because she's a misfit in their eyes. She is apparently in a school where all the students are bad and she's the only good student. She discovers that no one respects you when you're good, despite what her parents may have told her at home. She later attempts to tell them what is good about her and decides what she's going to be. It turns out that she must be either a new student or a student who has a disability that prevents her from talking to the other kids without fooling herself.