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.
In the morning when the world came awake
Before you knew me I knew your name
It was painted across the day as it breaks
An impression in your window frame
When you saw me out your window
Singing from the garden
Only the beginning
I'm only getting started
I don't mind the digging
Baby, I'll work harder
I've been washing dishes
Singing from the bottom
But one day I'll be running this place
And one day I could take you away
But I want you to wonder what's my name
Because I need you to want me the same
When you saw me washing dishes
Singing from the bottom
Only the beginning
I'm only getting started
I don't mind the digging
Baby, I'll work harder
I've been in the ashes
Singing from the garden
Where everything reaches for the sun
Still unsure of what we'll become
But I need you to reach out to me
See in me more than I could see
Because I'm afraid that
One day is only two words we say
I don't want to let them get in the way
Of all the plans that we should be making right now
Right now
Who took the time and where did they take it
I want to take it back
I don't want them to break it
All these plans that we should be making right now
Right now
You see now one day I'll be running this place
One day I could take you away
But I want you to wonder what's my name
Because I need you to want me the same
When you saw me out your window
Singing from the garden
Only the beginning
I'm only getting started
I don't mind the digging
Baby, I'll work harder
I've been washing dishes
Singing from the bottom
One day is only two words we say
I don't want to let them get in the way
Of all these plans that we should be making right now
Right now
Who took the time and where did they take it
I want to take it back
I don't want them to break it
All these plans that we should be making right now
Before you knew me I knew your name
It was painted across the day as it breaks
An impression in your window frame
When you saw me out your window
Singing from the garden
Only the beginning
I'm only getting started
I don't mind the digging
Baby, I'll work harder
I've been washing dishes
Singing from the bottom
But one day I'll be running this place
And one day I could take you away
But I want you to wonder what's my name
Because I need you to want me the same
When you saw me washing dishes
Singing from the bottom
Only the beginning
I'm only getting started
I don't mind the digging
Baby, I'll work harder
I've been in the ashes
Singing from the garden
Where everything reaches for the sun
Still unsure of what we'll become
But I need you to reach out to me
See in me more than I could see
Because I'm afraid that
One day is only two words we say
I don't want to let them get in the way
Of all the plans that we should be making right now
Right now
Who took the time and where did they take it
I want to take it back
I don't want them to break it
All these plans that we should be making right now
Right now
You see now one day I'll be running this place
One day I could take you away
But I want you to wonder what's my name
Because I need you to want me the same
When you saw me out your window
Singing from the garden
Only the beginning
I'm only getting started
I don't mind the digging
Baby, I'll work harder
I've been washing dishes
Singing from the bottom
One day is only two words we say
I don't want to let them get in the way
Of all these plans that we should be making right now
Right now
Who took the time and where did they take it
I want to take it back
I don't want them to break it
All these plans that we should be making right now
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by ricoaudi
Washing Dishes Lyrics as written by Jack Johnson
Lyrics © Bubble Toes Publishing, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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So catchy! And the words are so...no words can explain but these lyrics just explain themselves :) love it. Thanks, once again, Jack!!