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.
(Open wide)
And when the medicine ran out
And when we didn't speak for days
I could hide inside your smile
Fade
And curl up around the fang
Drained
Wasted away
I'll be your toy
To seduce & destroy
I'll be your toy
To seduce & destroy
(Open wide)
I'll kill
What's killing me!
I'll do what I have to
To kill
What's killing me!
No one is clean
Chemical bondage
Pale as parchment
I'll kill
What's killing me!
Abuse me
You can use me
Better living through chemistry!
And when you fall asleep
And when you drop the key
I'll slide it inside your mouth
And say,
"Do you wanna play?"
Bang
Blow you away
You'll by my toy
To seduce & destroy
You'll be my toy
To seduce & destroy
(Open wide)
I'll kill
What's killing me!
I'll do what I have to
To kill
What's killing me!
No one is clean
Chemical bondage
Pale as parchment
I'll kill
What's killing me!
Abuse me
You can use me
Better living through chemistry!
On your knees
Coughing up
Prayers made of
Money & Dust
Serrated blades of
Your bated breath
Have made a monster
In the house of death
Punctured, deflated
The snakes in your veins
Evacuated & slithered away
Are you sure you still want to play
This evil little game?
I'll kill
What's killing me!
I'll kill
What's killing me!
A devil made of crystal
Glistens like the sun
Fingers to the head
Pointed like a gun
A devil made of crystal
Glistens like the sun
Fingers to the head
Pointed like a gun
A devil made of crystal
Glistens like the sun
Fingers to the head
Pointed like a gun
A devil made of crystal
A devil made of crystal
A devil made of crystal
Glistens like the sun
Fingers to the head
Pointed like a gun
Pointed like a gun
Pointed like a gun
Pointed like a gun
Are you sure you still want to play
This evil little game?
And when the medicine ran out
And when we didn't speak for days
I could hide inside your smile
Fade
And curl up around the fang
Drained
Wasted away
I'll be your toy
To seduce & destroy
I'll be your toy
To seduce & destroy
(Open wide)
I'll kill
What's killing me!
I'll do what I have to
To kill
What's killing me!
No one is clean
Chemical bondage
Pale as parchment
I'll kill
What's killing me!
Abuse me
You can use me
Better living through chemistry!
And when you fall asleep
And when you drop the key
I'll slide it inside your mouth
And say,
"Do you wanna play?"
Bang
Blow you away
You'll by my toy
To seduce & destroy
You'll be my toy
To seduce & destroy
(Open wide)
I'll kill
What's killing me!
I'll do what I have to
To kill
What's killing me!
No one is clean
Chemical bondage
Pale as parchment
I'll kill
What's killing me!
Abuse me
You can use me
Better living through chemistry!
On your knees
Coughing up
Prayers made of
Money & Dust
Serrated blades of
Your bated breath
Have made a monster
In the house of death
Punctured, deflated
The snakes in your veins
Evacuated & slithered away
Are you sure you still want to play
This evil little game?
I'll kill
What's killing me!
I'll kill
What's killing me!
A devil made of crystal
Glistens like the sun
Fingers to the head
Pointed like a gun
A devil made of crystal
Glistens like the sun
Fingers to the head
Pointed like a gun
A devil made of crystal
Glistens like the sun
Fingers to the head
Pointed like a gun
A devil made of crystal
A devil made of crystal
A devil made of crystal
Glistens like the sun
Fingers to the head
Pointed like a gun
Pointed like a gun
Pointed like a gun
Pointed like a gun
Are you sure you still want to play
This evil little game?
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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
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.