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.
I thought I had found my place
The last thing I was looking for
But now that I’m on the case
I’m here so let me tell you more
You see, I was young and ambitious
I did my best to fight my growing suspicion
If you ask your boyfriend, I’m sure he would agree
I’m only telling you what they already told me
Women have no place in this world
Women have no place in this world
Do you think we ever will make it?
Is it too early or too late?
Do you think we’ll ever escape it?
Surely you’ll have to learn to wait
You’re the nude in the painting
You’re the girl in the song
That the boys sing back to you
In front of every brave woman
There’s some guy just blocking the view
They’ve had their gentlemen’s bars
But now they wanna go to Mars
So let them!
Women have no place in this world
Women have no place in this world
Women have no place in this world
Women have no place in this world
Go ahead and call me crazy
Women get used to all kinds of slurs
Ain’t that the way the world makes me?
They’ll criticize your voice if you make yourself heard
I’m the Wonder Girl of the Underworld
And they’ll find me writing letters in my tomb
I used to dress up like a witch and travel the world
With the songs I wrote back in my room
You ask yourself, ‘Is it in my head?’
You turn that finger on the world instead
Women shame themselves
But don’t blame yourselves
'Cause women have no place in this world
Women have no place in this world
Women have no place in this world
Women have no place in this world
The last thing I was looking for
But now that I’m on the case
I’m here so let me tell you more
You see, I was young and ambitious
I did my best to fight my growing suspicion
If you ask your boyfriend, I’m sure he would agree
I’m only telling you what they already told me
Women have no place in this world
Women have no place in this world
Do you think we ever will make it?
Is it too early or too late?
Do you think we’ll ever escape it?
Surely you’ll have to learn to wait
You’re the nude in the painting
You’re the girl in the song
That the boys sing back to you
In front of every brave woman
There’s some guy just blocking the view
They’ve had their gentlemen’s bars
But now they wanna go to Mars
So let them!
Women have no place in this world
Women have no place in this world
Women have no place in this world
Women have no place in this world
Go ahead and call me crazy
Women get used to all kinds of slurs
Ain’t that the way the world makes me?
They’ll criticize your voice if you make yourself heard
I’m the Wonder Girl of the Underworld
And they’ll find me writing letters in my tomb
I used to dress up like a witch and travel the world
With the songs I wrote back in my room
You ask yourself, ‘Is it in my head?’
You turn that finger on the world instead
Women shame themselves
But don’t blame yourselves
'Cause women have no place in this world
Women have no place in this world
Women have no place in this world
Women have no place in this world
Lyrics submitted by middledistancerunner
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.