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.
There ain't no man that can save me
There ain't no man that can enslave me
Ain't no man or men that can change the shape my soul is in
There ain't nobody here
Who can cause me pain or raise my fear 'cause I got only love to share
If you're looking for truth I'm proof you'll find it there
You got to serve something, ain't that right
I know it gets dark but there's always a light
You're gonna have to buy in to get into the club
Trade your worries
You gotta show up if you wanna be seen
If you matters to you, ma, it matters to me
I'm gonna fall hard, yeah I know I am
When the clowns crack up I laugh with them
Ain't no man that can save me
There ain't no man that can enslave me
Ain't no man or men that can change the shape my soul is in
There ain't nobody here
Who can cause me pain or raise my fear 'cause I got only love to share
If you're looking for truth I'm proof you'll find it there
You say you look funny, I say you're a star
I say you're whatever you think you are
Watch your naysayers fall right in line
If we believe it they'll say she is so pretty
He is so fine
There ain't no man that can save me
There ain't no man that can enslave me
There ain't no man or men that can change the shape my soul is in
There ain't nobody here
Who can cause me pain or raise my fear 'cause I got only love to share
If you're looking for truth I'm proof you'll find it there
You got to go somewhere, ain't that true
Not a whole lot of time for me or you
Got a whole lot of reasons to be mad, let's not pick one
I live in a room at the top of the stairs
Got my windows wide open and nobody cares
And I got no choice but to get right up when the sun comes through
Ain't no man that can save me
There ain't no man that can enslave me
There ain't no man or men that can change the shape my soul is in
There ain't nobody here
Who can cause me pain or raise my fear 'cause I got only love to share
If you're looking for truth I'm proof you'll find it there
If you're looking for truth I'm proof you'll find it there
If you're looking for truth I'm proof you'll find it
There ain't no man that can enslave me
Ain't no man or men that can change the shape my soul is in
There ain't nobody here
Who can cause me pain or raise my fear 'cause I got only love to share
If you're looking for truth I'm proof you'll find it there
You got to serve something, ain't that right
I know it gets dark but there's always a light
You're gonna have to buy in to get into the club
Trade your worries
You gotta show up if you wanna be seen
If you matters to you, ma, it matters to me
I'm gonna fall hard, yeah I know I am
When the clowns crack up I laugh with them
Ain't no man that can save me
There ain't no man that can enslave me
Ain't no man or men that can change the shape my soul is in
There ain't nobody here
Who can cause me pain or raise my fear 'cause I got only love to share
If you're looking for truth I'm proof you'll find it there
You say you look funny, I say you're a star
I say you're whatever you think you are
Watch your naysayers fall right in line
If we believe it they'll say she is so pretty
He is so fine
There ain't no man that can save me
There ain't no man that can enslave me
There ain't no man or men that can change the shape my soul is in
There ain't nobody here
Who can cause me pain or raise my fear 'cause I got only love to share
If you're looking for truth I'm proof you'll find it there
You got to go somewhere, ain't that true
Not a whole lot of time for me or you
Got a whole lot of reasons to be mad, let's not pick one
I live in a room at the top of the stairs
Got my windows wide open and nobody cares
And I got no choice but to get right up when the sun comes through
Ain't no man that can save me
There ain't no man that can enslave me
There ain't no man or men that can change the shape my soul is in
There ain't nobody here
Who can cause me pain or raise my fear 'cause I got only love to share
If you're looking for truth I'm proof you'll find it there
If you're looking for truth I'm proof you'll find it there
If you're looking for truth I'm proof you'll find it
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
Ain't No Man Lyrics as written by Scott Avett Robert Crawford
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The reason no 'man ' can save them is because they believe they can only be saved by God. No man can change their soul....only God can. They only have 'Love'...Love is representative of Jesus who preached love.
It gets dark...but here is always the light. Jesus is the light that can save then from the darkness. You have to 'buy-in' to get into the club means you have to have faith and believe in Jesus to be saved.
It's no secret that the Avett Borthers are believing Christians..they've said as much in interviews. But I appreciate the subtlety of how they weave Christian teachings in to their music without it being overbearing.