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.
[Verse 1]
Yeah, lust isn't love when we want it to be
I guess that's what I've learned
You said your sorries, here's my turn
Yeah, too long for me to say these words
Two hours every weekend when I drove to your house
Spending all our day with your dog on the couch
Falling for you when I don't know what I'm about
Two lonely kids said they figured it out
It wasn't real, though our feelings were
You love me more, I hurt you more
You like to drink so your feelings pour
I treated you like I do a storm
I stayed in while your tears pour
I ran away when the wind blew
You tried to fix everything we went through
All I ever did was change, you blame me, I don't blame you
Closer to God, the more distant I felt
Ocean of love turned to a mountain of guilt
I hate the way that I dealt with you and myself
Felt like I was saving us, I wasn't, I couldn't tell
'Cause all you ever did was listen, I disregarded what you felt and thought
You were scared to tell me anything
All we ever did was fought
But you gave me your heart
And I couldn't hand it back
Gave me a chance, but I couldn't make it last
Left you my things 'cause I couldn't go back and feel everything I coulda had
I was in a dark place, I ain't blaming anybody else
I could never be the man that you want me to be
When I did, I lost everything else, so
[Chorus]
I'm sorry
I'm sorry for everything I put you through
I'm sorry for the things that I said to you
I'm sorry for the way that I am to you
I'm sorry
I'm sorry 'cause I know that I let you down
I'm sorry 'cause I know I won't be around
I'm sorry for everything
I'm sorry
I'm sorry
I'm sorry
I'm sorry
[Verse 2]
Who knows where the wind blows?
Who knows where the pain goes?
How does someone know your soul
Then you wonder where they went while you're looking out the window?
Best friends are strangers
Were they even friends at all?
Turn a new leaf in the fall, so they leave me to fall
See em' change like leaves in the fall, yeah
Is anything real at all?
Looking at the mirror, red eyes, God, I need a call
Tell me that You're here, I wonder if I'm even me at all
Lately, I don't feel it—it ain't real 'til you know it's gone
I just hate how we left things
So I owe you this letter that I wrote
Only two ways a love dies
It blows up or it fades slow (I'm sorry)
There's a knot in my chest and it won't untie
No matter what, I'm always there
Another one of my lies
Boxes of promises all on the side
I'm not there 'cause I know you're doing better
I'm not there 'cause I know it hurts
I'm not there 'cause of all of this
I'm not there 'cause I make you worse
[Chorus]
I'm sorry
I'm sorry for everything I put you through
I'm sorry for the things that I said to you
I'm sorry for the way that I am to you
I'm sorry
I'm sorry 'cause I know that I let you down
I'm sorry 'cause I know I won't be around
I'm sorry for everything
Yeah, lust isn't love when we want it to be
I guess that's what I've learned
You said your sorries, here's my turn
Yeah, too long for me to say these words
Two hours every weekend when I drove to your house
Spending all our day with your dog on the couch
Falling for you when I don't know what I'm about
Two lonely kids said they figured it out
It wasn't real, though our feelings were
You love me more, I hurt you more
You like to drink so your feelings pour
I treated you like I do a storm
I stayed in while your tears pour
I ran away when the wind blew
You tried to fix everything we went through
All I ever did was change, you blame me, I don't blame you
Closer to God, the more distant I felt
Ocean of love turned to a mountain of guilt
I hate the way that I dealt with you and myself
Felt like I was saving us, I wasn't, I couldn't tell
'Cause all you ever did was listen, I disregarded what you felt and thought
You were scared to tell me anything
All we ever did was fought
But you gave me your heart
And I couldn't hand it back
Gave me a chance, but I couldn't make it last
Left you my things 'cause I couldn't go back and feel everything I coulda had
I was in a dark place, I ain't blaming anybody else
I could never be the man that you want me to be
When I did, I lost everything else, so
[Chorus]
I'm sorry
I'm sorry for everything I put you through
I'm sorry for the things that I said to you
I'm sorry for the way that I am to you
I'm sorry
I'm sorry 'cause I know that I let you down
I'm sorry 'cause I know I won't be around
I'm sorry for everything
I'm sorry
I'm sorry
I'm sorry
I'm sorry
[Verse 2]
Who knows where the wind blows?
Who knows where the pain goes?
How does someone know your soul
Then you wonder where they went while you're looking out the window?
Best friends are strangers
Were they even friends at all?
Turn a new leaf in the fall, so they leave me to fall
See em' change like leaves in the fall, yeah
Is anything real at all?
Looking at the mirror, red eyes, God, I need a call
Tell me that You're here, I wonder if I'm even me at all
Lately, I don't feel it—it ain't real 'til you know it's gone
I just hate how we left things
So I owe you this letter that I wrote
Only two ways a love dies
It blows up or it fades slow (I'm sorry)
There's a knot in my chest and it won't untie
No matter what, I'm always there
Another one of my lies
Boxes of promises all on the side
I'm not there 'cause I know you're doing better
I'm not there 'cause I know it hurts
I'm not there 'cause of all of this
I'm not there 'cause I make you worse
[Chorus]
I'm sorry
I'm sorry for everything I put you through
I'm sorry for the things that I said to you
I'm sorry for the way that I am to you
I'm sorry
I'm sorry 'cause I know that I let you down
I'm sorry 'cause I know I won't be around
I'm sorry for everything
Lyrics submitted by musicmayo
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