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.
Mm, oh
Yeah
I've been trying to find the right time
To tell you everything on my mind
But I'm still trying to find the right time, mm
And I know you're going through hard things, so
I'm giving everything to fix things
But I'm tryna figure where to draw the line, mm
Sometimes you talk, got me thinking that you hate me
Still love you, but some days I'm kinda suffocating
I don't wanna see
I don't wanna see you down, but
How am I supposed to carry
The weight of your love when it gets this heavy?
I should be a bird
But I don't really feel like flying
'Cause my wings are hurt
Yeah, I'm tired of trying
I feel like I'm living for the days when
Think that I'm finally seeing changes
And there ain't nothing more amazing, mm
Sometimes I wonder, are we flying around in circles?
I'm in the sky, but you're bringing me back down low
But I don't wanna come down
I wanna lift you back up
How am I supposed to carry
The weight of your love when it gets this heavy?
I should be a bird
But I don't really feel like flying
'Cause my wings are hurt
Yeah, I'm tired of trying
Should I stay or should I go?
How long is it gonna be this way? I just really wanna know
Am I afraid to let you know?
'Cause I don't wanna be the one to hurt you while you're hurting the most
How am I supposed to carry
The weight of your love when it gets this heavy?
I should be a bird
But I don't really feel like flying, oh
When I'm tired of the trying
Oh, tell me
How am I supposed to carry
The weight of your love when it gets this heavy?
I should be a bird
But I don't really feel like flying
'Cause my wings are hurt
Yeah, I'm tired of trying
Ooh, ooh
I should be a bird
Ooh, ooh
I should be a bird
I should be a bird
Yeah
I've been trying to find the right time
To tell you everything on my mind
But I'm still trying to find the right time, mm
And I know you're going through hard things, so
I'm giving everything to fix things
But I'm tryna figure where to draw the line, mm
Sometimes you talk, got me thinking that you hate me
Still love you, but some days I'm kinda suffocating
I don't wanna see
I don't wanna see you down, but
How am I supposed to carry
The weight of your love when it gets this heavy?
I should be a bird
But I don't really feel like flying
'Cause my wings are hurt
Yeah, I'm tired of trying
I feel like I'm living for the days when
Think that I'm finally seeing changes
And there ain't nothing more amazing, mm
Sometimes I wonder, are we flying around in circles?
I'm in the sky, but you're bringing me back down low
But I don't wanna come down
I wanna lift you back up
How am I supposed to carry
The weight of your love when it gets this heavy?
I should be a bird
But I don't really feel like flying
'Cause my wings are hurt
Yeah, I'm tired of trying
Should I stay or should I go?
How long is it gonna be this way? I just really wanna know
Am I afraid to let you know?
'Cause I don't wanna be the one to hurt you while you're hurting the most
How am I supposed to carry
The weight of your love when it gets this heavy?
I should be a bird
But I don't really feel like flying, oh
When I'm tired of the trying
Oh, tell me
How am I supposed to carry
The weight of your love when it gets this heavy?
I should be a bird
But I don't really feel like flying
'Cause my wings are hurt
Yeah, I'm tired of trying
Ooh, ooh
I should be a bird
Ooh, ooh
I should be a bird
I should be a bird
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