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.
Just let it go, don't wanna argue anymore
I can't be sure I know just what we're fighting for
I know you're scared and that you're thinking I may go
I'm not leaving, I'm not leaving
And if you're thinking I might, might be led astray
Just remember this one question
What if I was nothing, what if this is true?
What if I was nothing girl, nothing without you?
So what if I was angry? What did you think I'd do?
I told you that I love you girl, I'm nothing without you
I know it's hard, it seems we've worked at this so long
It's often foolish pride that tells us we're not wrong
I hear your voice, you tell me that you'll never go
And I believe it, I believe it
And if you're thinking I might, might be led astray
Just remember this one question
What if I was nothing, what if this is true?
What if I was nothing girl, nothing without you?
So what if I was angry? What did you think I'd do?
I told you that I love you girl, I'm nothing without you
And we can keep this going on
We'll make it work some way
And every step, it makes us stronger every day (every day)
And if you're thinking I might, might be led astray (led astray)
Just remember this one question
What if I was nothing, what if this is true?
What if I was nothing girl, nothing without you?
So what if I was angry? What did you think I'd do?
I told you that I love you girl, I'm nothing without you
What if I was nothing, what if this is true? (What if I was nothing?)
What if I was nothing girl, nothing without you?
So what if I was angry? What did you think I'd do? (What if I was nothing?)
I told you that I love you, girl, I'm nothing without you
I can't be sure I know just what we're fighting for
I know you're scared and that you're thinking I may go
I'm not leaving, I'm not leaving
And if you're thinking I might, might be led astray
Just remember this one question
What if I was nothing, what if this is true?
What if I was nothing girl, nothing without you?
So what if I was angry? What did you think I'd do?
I told you that I love you girl, I'm nothing without you
I know it's hard, it seems we've worked at this so long
It's often foolish pride that tells us we're not wrong
I hear your voice, you tell me that you'll never go
And I believe it, I believe it
And if you're thinking I might, might be led astray
Just remember this one question
What if I was nothing, what if this is true?
What if I was nothing girl, nothing without you?
So what if I was angry? What did you think I'd do?
I told you that I love you girl, I'm nothing without you
And we can keep this going on
We'll make it work some way
And every step, it makes us stronger every day (every day)
And if you're thinking I might, might be led astray (led astray)
Just remember this one question
What if I was nothing, what if this is true?
What if I was nothing girl, nothing without you?
So what if I was angry? What did you think I'd do?
I told you that I love you girl, I'm nothing without you
What if I was nothing, what if this is true? (What if I was nothing?)
What if I was nothing girl, nothing without you?
So what if I was angry? What did you think I'd do? (What if I was nothing?)
I told you that I love you, girl, I'm nothing without you
Lyrics submitted by DSMexiCo, edited by Wyvern740, ThorWarrior666
What If I Was Nothing Lyrics as written by Michael Martin Jason Costa
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
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.
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[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.
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.
It's only the question that's important here, I think. 'What if I were nothing without you?' I think he's talking about the feeling people can get sometimes when they feel like the whole purpose of their life is to be with their significant other. Everything they do, they do so that the other will appreciate or take comfort in. And that's Love, isn't that so? So there's no question of him leaving her, since he would have no purpose without her. He would be nothing without her. That's why his Love will keep him from ever leaving her. That's what I think he's saying anyway. :)
I agree with both, but it's not only a question of loosing someone or purposes in life.. i mean.. it also has to do with it, but what the singer is tryng to say is that when you are so in a relationship you have to work to make it worth ,... i see it all the time.. people get together and wait for love to rain over them. Patetic. no one is perfect .. so if you truly love someone you have to work with Him/Her to "keep things going on" couse if you let the imperfection of the other takeover yourself you are gonna stay alone for the rest of your life :) this way , at the end of a relationship, you can say " I gave all of me and I have no regret " and after all that the only question you can do to the partner "am I something to you?" or, "What if I was nothing ?" . anyway , beautifull song ,, one of my favorite, lyrically and instrumentally rich ;)
In my opinion, I believe this song should be interpreted as: "What if I was nothing to you, miss trust". "You" meaning A loved woman, for a prolonged period of time. "What if I was nothing" meaning what if I as the man, whom to fail you or yet to lose you to another because "You" decided to cheat or to find love else where. "I"exemplifying the utter ultimate end of one's being within a relationship.
I like your interpretation , but I'm pretty sure that's not what he's saying.<br /> I like my interpretation better. :)<br /> Also I think he can't be exemplifying the utter ultimate end of his involvement and investment in the relationship because he keeps talking about just working at the relationship.
This song talks about the need for someone special in your life, but it could could also refer to the feelings of depression. That loss of someone you love. I've told many that I've loved the, but I really don't know why they walk away.
This song is about resolving an argument with your significant other and deciding your relationship is worth more than the argument and putting aside your pride and ego. The speaker is confused about why they are fighting, and suddenly realizes that his significant other is fighting with him or pulling away from him in the argument because underneath it all, she is afraid of abandonment... that they are fighting and he will leave her because he is angry... perhaps his significant other even has some abuse trauma that makes them scared in situations where someone else is angry... and he's telling her that no matter what they are going through he is never going to leave or abandon her and that he loves her more than anything in the entire universe and that his sole purpose on this earth is to love her. It's about ending an argument with love rather than winning the argument at the expense of their relationship.
Truly beautiful concept
He doubts she loves him any longer and he desperately tries to change her mind. That the problems they ran into were not enough to destroy his love.