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.
How many times do I have to try to tell you
That I'm sorry for the things I've done
But when I start to try to tell you
That's when you have to tell me
"Hey… this trouble's only just begun"
I tell myself too many times
Why don't you learn to keep your mouth shut
That's why it hurts so bad to hear the words
That keep on falling from your mouth
Falling from your mouth
Falling from your mouth
Tell me why?
I may be mad i may be blind
I may be viciously unkind
But I can still read what you're thinking
What you are thinking, what are you thinking
I've heard it said too many times
You'd be better off besides
Why can't you see this boat is sinking
(This boat is sinking)
Let's go down to water's edge
We can cast away these doubts
Some things are better left unsaid
They still turn me inside out
Turning inside out, turning inside out
Tell me why?
Tell me why?
You tell me
This is the book I never read
The words I never said
The path I'll never tread
And the dreams I'll dream instead
The joy that's seldom spread
The tears that we shed the fear
And the dread
And the contents inside my head
These are the years they spent
This is what they represent
This is how I feel
Do you even know how I feel?
‘Cause if you know
I don't think you know how I feel
How can you know? You never asked me
Why? Why?
That I'm sorry for the things I've done
But when I start to try to tell you
That's when you have to tell me
"Hey… this trouble's only just begun"
I tell myself too many times
Why don't you learn to keep your mouth shut
That's why it hurts so bad to hear the words
That keep on falling from your mouth
Falling from your mouth
Falling from your mouth
Tell me why?
I may be mad i may be blind
I may be viciously unkind
But I can still read what you're thinking
What you are thinking, what are you thinking
I've heard it said too many times
You'd be better off besides
Why can't you see this boat is sinking
(This boat is sinking)
Let's go down to water's edge
We can cast away these doubts
Some things are better left unsaid
They still turn me inside out
Turning inside out, turning inside out
Tell me why?
Tell me why?
You tell me
This is the book I never read
The words I never said
The path I'll never tread
And the dreams I'll dream instead
The joy that's seldom spread
The tears that we shed the fear
And the dread
And the contents inside my head
These are the years they spent
This is what they represent
This is how I feel
Do you even know how I feel?
‘Cause if you know
I don't think you know how I feel
How can you know? You never asked me
Why? Why?
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Punchline
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