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've been stealing
Time where I can get it from
I've been losing
Grip on what I used to hold
If I could get another chance
I'd put it in a ziploc bag
And keep it in my pocket
Keep it in my pocket
Keep it in my pocket
Tell me
When I start to blow it
Would you show me
What I need to do
Before you hate me
I could never live with that so
Tell me
Before you're better off without me
I've been watching you
Sleeping with a troubled look
I'm sure your bad dreams
Are probably all about me
And better off without me
If I could get another chance
I'd put it in a ziploc bag
And keep it in my pocket
Keep it in my pocket
Keep it in my pocket
Tell me
When I start to blow it
Would you show me
What I need to do
Before you hate me
I could never live with that so
Tell me
Before you're better off without me
Time where I can get it from
I've been losing
Grip on what I used to hold
If I could get another chance
I'd put it in a ziploc bag
And keep it in my pocket
Keep it in my pocket
Keep it in my pocket
Tell me
When I start to blow it
Would you show me
What I need to do
Before you hate me
I could never live with that so
Tell me
Before you're better off without me
I've been watching you
Sleeping with a troubled look
I'm sure your bad dreams
Are probably all about me
And better off without me
If I could get another chance
I'd put it in a ziploc bag
And keep it in my pocket
Keep it in my pocket
Keep it in my pocket
Tell me
When I start to blow it
Would you show me
What I need to do
Before you hate me
I could never live with that so
Tell me
Before you're better off without me
Lyrics submitted by spitfirek7
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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
i think this song is about some guy who realizes his gf is falling out of love with him and wants to know what he could do to make it better and he just wants another chance.
My best friend and I got in a fight about six weeks ago. He played this song in the car when he was taking me home. He is always communicating things through music, so I figure that he was probably trying to say something to me through this song. The problem is that I am better off without him. He had been using me for so long that I had to end our friendship. Maybe if he would have said these things to me, we would still be friends, but unfortunately, he tried to say everything through a song, and that just wasn't enough. I think it's a great song, but I don't know if I'll really ever be able to listen to it without feeling somewhat upset with him.
This song has significance to something I'm currently going through where my paranoia got the better of me and damaged a very special relationship. I think what he's saying in the song is that he realizes he had been pushing away someone he loved, and he just wants to fix it all and "put it in a zip-lock bag and keep it in his pocket".. and away from the harm he may inadvertently cause it.
True, the symbolsim of the ziplock bag was to preserve that "second chance". And the chorus is pretty much a plea for help (Help me before I screw up that you'll end up better of without me.)
awesome as song
the chorus is awesome. i really love the way he sings it
kickass song.
Me and my friend recently got in a fight which she says is mostly my fault. And I'm sorry. I would say this song somewhat symbolizses whats going on with us. Like if I could get another chance to make everything okay, I would! If she would only just tell me when I do something wrong or mess up everything would be better!
Like: "When I start to blow it Would you show me What I need to do Before you hate me" And she didn't tell me before she hated me. That's the problem.