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 need to be myself
I can't be no one else
I'm feeling supersonic, give me gin and tonic
You can have it all, but how much do you want it?
You make me laugh
Give me your autograph
Can I ride with you in your BMW?
You can sail with me in my yellow submarine
You need to find out
'Cause no one's gonna tell you what I'm on about
You need to find a way for what you wanna say
But before tomorrow
'Cause my friend said he'd take you home
He sits in a corner all alone
He lives under a waterfall
Nobody can see him
Nobody can ever hear him call
Nobody can ever hear him call
You need to be yourself
You can't be no one else
I know a girl called Elsa, she's into Alka-Seltzer
She sniffs it through a cane on a supersonic train
And she makes me laugh
I got her autograph
She done it with a doctor on a helicopter
She's sniffin' in a tissue, sellin' the Big Issue
When she finds out
No one's gonna tell her what I'm on about
You need to find a way for what you wanna say
But before tomorrow
'Cause my friend said he'd take you home
He sits in a corner all alone
He lives under a waterfall
Nobody can see him
Nobody can ever hear him call
Nobody can ever hear him call
I can't be no one else
I'm feeling supersonic, give me gin and tonic
You can have it all, but how much do you want it?
You make me laugh
Give me your autograph
Can I ride with you in your BMW?
You can sail with me in my yellow submarine
You need to find out
'Cause no one's gonna tell you what I'm on about
You need to find a way for what you wanna say
But before tomorrow
'Cause my friend said he'd take you home
He sits in a corner all alone
He lives under a waterfall
Nobody can see him
Nobody can ever hear him call
Nobody can ever hear him call
You need to be yourself
You can't be no one else
I know a girl called Elsa, she's into Alka-Seltzer
She sniffs it through a cane on a supersonic train
And she makes me laugh
I got her autograph
She done it with a doctor on a helicopter
She's sniffin' in a tissue, sellin' the Big Issue
When she finds out
No one's gonna tell her what I'm on about
You need to find a way for what you wanna say
But before tomorrow
'Cause my friend said he'd take you home
He sits in a corner all alone
He lives under a waterfall
Nobody can see him
Nobody can ever hear him call
Nobody can ever hear him call
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the lyrics arent 'nonsense' u retards, this song paints a picture of working class, unemployed drunken drugged up life and the despair that comes with growing up with no aspirations in this environment. the verses are about this mundane lifestyle and the chorus/pre-chorus is a warning - make an effort to get out or you'll end up like the dude in the chorus: alone, drunken (under a waterfall) and invisible. fucking brilliant song
noel isnt shallow with his lyrics, theyre honest and have meaning, if you cant see it go listen to justin bieber
@spinnact
@spinnact @spinnact your the retard. Noel said its bullshit. So it's bullshit. If you say otherwise then you are sayig to Noel that he's wrong. <br /> He said a girl came up to him and said that this song was about her life....he said 'what? You done it with a doctor on a helicopter?' <br /> <br /> It's just like he Beatles I am the walrus. People look into songs too much when really they are nothing but great tunes and songs. You don't need to have a smart, clever and almost hidden message in the lyrics in order to make great music. It just needs to be great- which this is. So leave your song snobbery at the door. Prick.
@spinnact / @Dwhite44 Just 'cause he called it bullshit doesn't mean it's meaningless. It could mean he admits it doesn't have a singular cohesive being and that it's a mishmash of images and ideas. I buy all sorts of explanations as possibilities, but to say it's utterly meaningless is wrong I believe. Sorry. My personal theory of the meaning of it is that it is existentialist. Be yourself, develop that, don't waste it. Express yourself before its too late because tomorrow if could be over, his unseen friend (death) could come any day.
@spinnact To me, the key phrase is "You need to find a way for what you wanna say, but before tomorrow." Moreover the first part is about money, which doesn't make you happy (BMW, submarine) and the second part is about drugs, which don't make you happy either. All these people have forgotten the real meaning of life, they need to find themselves, and they need to find out quickly.<br /> <br /> What I like about Oasis is that these guys (that's the british humor) intentionally idolize people who take themselves too seriously by telling them "Can I have your autograph?" because it's a kind way to make these people reflect on their attitude.