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.
Baby, I'm preying on you tonight
Hunt you down, eat you alive
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals-mals
Maybe you think that you can hide
I can smell your scent for miles
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals-mals
Baby I'm
So what you trying to do to me?
It's like we can't stop, we're enemies
But we get along when I'm inside you, ayy
You're like a drug that's killing me
I cut you out entirely
But I get so high when I'm inside you
Yeah, you can start over, you can run free
You can find other fish in the sea
You can pretend it's meant to be
But you can't stay away from me
I can still hear you making that sound
Taking me down rolling on the ground
You can pretend that it was me
But no, oh
Baby, I'm preying on you tonight
Hunt you down, eat you alive
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals-mals
Maybe you think that you can hide
I can smell your scent for miles
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals-mals
Baby, I'm
So if I run it's not enough
You're still in my head forever stuck
So you can do what you wanna do, ayy
I love your lies I'll eat 'em up
But don't deny the animal
That comes alive when I'm inside you
Yeah, you can start over you can run free
You can find other fish in the sea
You can pretend it's meant to be
But you can't stay away from me
I can still hear you making that sound
Taking me down rolling on the ground
You can pretend that it was me
But no, oh
Baby, I'm preying on you tonight
Hunt you down, eat you alive
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals-mals
Maybe you think that you can hide
I can smell your scent for miles
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals-mals
Baby, I'm
Don't tell no lie, lie, lie, lie
You can't deny-ny-ny-ny
That beast inside-side-side-side
Yeah, yeah, yeah
No girl, don't lie, lie, lie, lie (no girl don't lie)
You can't deny, ny-ny-ny (you can't deny)
That beast inside-side-side-side
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yo, oh
Whoa, oh-oh
Whoa, oh-oh
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals-mals
Just like animals (yeah)
Animals (yeah)
Like animals-mals (yeah)
Ow
Baby, I'm preying on you tonight
Hunt you down, eat you alive
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals-mals
Maybe you think that you can hide
I can smell your scent for miles (for miles)
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals-mals (ooh)
Baby I'm
Don't tell no lie, lie, lie, lie
You can't deny-ny-ny-ny
That beast inside-side-side-side
Yeah, yeah, yeah
No girl, don't lie, lie, lie, lie (no, girl don't lie)
You can't deny-ny-ny-ny (you can't deny)
That beast inside-side-side-side
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Hunt you down, eat you alive
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals-mals
Maybe you think that you can hide
I can smell your scent for miles
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals-mals
Baby I'm
So what you trying to do to me?
It's like we can't stop, we're enemies
But we get along when I'm inside you, ayy
You're like a drug that's killing me
I cut you out entirely
But I get so high when I'm inside you
Yeah, you can start over, you can run free
You can find other fish in the sea
You can pretend it's meant to be
But you can't stay away from me
I can still hear you making that sound
Taking me down rolling on the ground
You can pretend that it was me
But no, oh
Baby, I'm preying on you tonight
Hunt you down, eat you alive
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals-mals
Maybe you think that you can hide
I can smell your scent for miles
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals-mals
Baby, I'm
So if I run it's not enough
You're still in my head forever stuck
So you can do what you wanna do, ayy
I love your lies I'll eat 'em up
But don't deny the animal
That comes alive when I'm inside you
Yeah, you can start over you can run free
You can find other fish in the sea
You can pretend it's meant to be
But you can't stay away from me
I can still hear you making that sound
Taking me down rolling on the ground
You can pretend that it was me
But no, oh
Baby, I'm preying on you tonight
Hunt you down, eat you alive
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals-mals
Maybe you think that you can hide
I can smell your scent for miles
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals-mals
Baby, I'm
Don't tell no lie, lie, lie, lie
You can't deny-ny-ny-ny
That beast inside-side-side-side
Yeah, yeah, yeah
No girl, don't lie, lie, lie, lie (no girl don't lie)
You can't deny, ny-ny-ny (you can't deny)
That beast inside-side-side-side
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yo, oh
Whoa, oh-oh
Whoa, oh-oh
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals-mals
Just like animals (yeah)
Animals (yeah)
Like animals-mals (yeah)
Ow
Baby, I'm preying on you tonight
Hunt you down, eat you alive
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals-mals
Maybe you think that you can hide
I can smell your scent for miles (for miles)
Just like animals
Animals
Like animals-mals (ooh)
Baby I'm
Don't tell no lie, lie, lie, lie
You can't deny-ny-ny-ny
That beast inside-side-side-side
Yeah, yeah, yeah
No girl, don't lie, lie, lie, lie (no, girl don't lie)
You can't deny-ny-ny-ny (you can't deny)
That beast inside-side-side-side
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Lyrics submitted by LyricGod2080
Animals Lyrics as written by Johan Schuster Adam Levine
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think the song is about a love-hate relationship. It's clear when he says 'it's like we can't stop we're enemies' meaning we hate each other. 'But I get along when I'm inside you' meaning I can't resit you. That's how I see it. No matter what the music video implies