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.
Now it seems I can't keep my mind off of you
My brain drifts back to better days we've been through
Like sitting on blacktop of the school grounds
The love I bitched about I finally found
But now it's gone and I take the blame
So there's nothing I can do but take the pain
Why?
Now I dwell on what you remind me of
A sweet young girl who sacrificed her love
As for me I am blind without a cause
And now I realized what I have lost
It was something real that I could have had
Now I play the fool whose stable soul's gone bad
Why?
Tell me the words I might have said
That's pumping pressure deep inside my head
Was it bad enough to be too late?
Just tell me the words I might have ate.
My brain drifts back to better days we've been through
Like sitting on blacktop of the school grounds
The love I bitched about I finally found
But now it's gone and I take the blame
So there's nothing I can do but take the pain
Why?
Now I dwell on what you remind me of
A sweet young girl who sacrificed her love
As for me I am blind without a cause
And now I realized what I have lost
It was something real that I could have had
Now I play the fool whose stable soul's gone bad
Why?
Tell me the words I might have said
That's pumping pressure deep inside my head
Was it bad enough to be too late?
Just tell me the words I might have ate.
Lyrics submitted by onearmedscissor
Words I Might Have Ate Lyrics as written by Frank E. Billie Joe Armstrong
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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This is probably about a relationship that went wrong, and Billie-Joe is saying that sometimes you don't realize what the other person meant to you until it's over, and he's willing to take the blame and the pain for it, and he's kind of asking why it went wrong, thus, "The Words I Might Have Ate." This is my personal favorite song, aside from the obvious favorites like Basketcase, Longview, Welcome to Paradise, Minority, etc...
This song has such a fun melody..
i love this song, i can relate to this song many times over. you dont realise what u had untill its gone.great song all round.
i love this song. i can relate to it quite a bit. im normally am quite nieve and just dont get things.....well....not too often. but when i do i've fucked it up real bad.........i love the lines, Now it seems i cant keep my mind off of you My brain drifts back to better days we've been through and....... But now it's gone and i take the blame So there's nothing i can do but take the pain Why? my life.
X peace X
this song reminds me a lot of the Beatles for some reason, especially the intro
Okay this is one of the best songs ever! It makes me tremble every single time I hear it. Is just about a girl who loves this boy, but his guy never look at what that girl meant to him. So he kept her waiting- So when this girl stop caring for him he realizes what he had lost. I think is about a relashonship that doesn't even started. Because he never really care about her... but as time pass he discover what he had lost and he regrets it a lot.
actually the begenning of this song reminds me of the song "magic bus" by The Who. A band who probably inspired Green Day.
"Tell me the words i might have said That's pumping pressure deep inside my head Was it bad enough to be too late? Just tell me the words i might have ate"
Aah, guys. Don't we all shove our feet in our mouths when we're around chicks? I like this song, because it's not really Green Day's stereotype 3-chord rock song. The title describes it pretty well :)
Good call greendayfan02. I agree it's about not knowing what you have until it's gone. Like, you don't really appreciate what you have until you've lost it.
NOT 3-chord-rock-song? So i guess you're not a musician.
The song is about a classical teenager or children's love, probably the first experiences with relation ship. So billie asks himself what he could have done differently when looking back at the case. And he certainly wants to know how he should behave, how he could have done better in this relationship FROM the former partner. He maybe hopes for a second chance(was it bad enough to be too late?). His mind keeps dwelling on this love-matter. But until the last lines of the lyrics, you see that he is seemingly accepting, that it's his fault, but by asking why, he expresses that he actually shouldn't give it all up yet.