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.
Fuck, you can't even
Early in the mornin', risin' to the street
Light me up that cigarette and I'll strap shoes on my feet
Got to find a reason, reason things went wrong
Got to find a reason why my money's all gone
I got a dalmatian, and I can still get high
I can play the guitar like a motherfuckin' riot
Well, life is (too short), so love the one you got
'Cause you might get run over or you might get shot
Never start no static, I just get it off my chest
Never had to battle with no bulletproof vest
Take a small example, take a ti-ti-ti-tip from me
Take all of your money, give it all to charity-ty-ty-ty
Love is what I got
It's within my reach
And the Sublime style's still straight from Long Beach
It all comes back to you, you finally get what you deserve
Try and test that, you're bound to get served
Love's what I got
Don't start a riot
You'll feel it when the dance gets hot
Lovin', is what I got
I said remember that
Lovin', is what I got
And remember that
Lovin', is what I got
I said remember that
Lovin', is what I got
(I got, I got, I got)
Why I don't cry when my dog runs away
I don't get angry at the bills I have to pay
I don't get angry when my mom smokes pot
Hits the bottle and goes right to the rock
Fuckin' and fightin', it's all the same
Livin' with Louie Dog's the only way to stay sane
Let the lovin', let the lovin' come back to me
Lovin', is what I got
I said remember that
Lovin', is what I got
And remember that
Lovin', is what I got
I said remember that
Lovin', is what I got
(I got, I got, I got)
We're not that far off
So that's
See, but
Yeah, we're done there
Early in the mornin', risin' to the street
Light me up that cigarette and I'll strap shoes on my feet
Got to find a reason, reason things went wrong
Got to find a reason why my money's all gone
I got a dalmatian, and I can still get high
I can play the guitar like a motherfuckin' riot
Well, life is (too short), so love the one you got
'Cause you might get run over or you might get shot
Never start no static, I just get it off my chest
Never had to battle with no bulletproof vest
Take a small example, take a ti-ti-ti-tip from me
Take all of your money, give it all to charity-ty-ty-ty
Love is what I got
It's within my reach
And the Sublime style's still straight from Long Beach
It all comes back to you, you finally get what you deserve
Try and test that, you're bound to get served
Love's what I got
Don't start a riot
You'll feel it when the dance gets hot
Lovin', is what I got
I said remember that
Lovin', is what I got
And remember that
Lovin', is what I got
I said remember that
Lovin', is what I got
(I got, I got, I got)
Why I don't cry when my dog runs away
I don't get angry at the bills I have to pay
I don't get angry when my mom smokes pot
Hits the bottle and goes right to the rock
Fuckin' and fightin', it's all the same
Livin' with Louie Dog's the only way to stay sane
Let the lovin', let the lovin' come back to me
Lovin', is what I got
I said remember that
Lovin', is what I got
And remember that
Lovin', is what I got
I said remember that
Lovin', is what I got
(I got, I got, I got)
We're not that far off
So that's
See, but
Yeah, we're done there
Lyrics submitted by The Big Andowski
What I Got Lyrics as written by Bradley James Nowell Lindon Roberts
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
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This song has a real deep meaning for me..
A while ago, I was depressed as hell(returning to slitting my wrist with whatever I could find), but one morning, I just turned this song on...and I realized that, even with all the shit that had been going on and bringing me down, I still had lovin..and that was what I got. ^^;; I went 3 days without slitting my wrist, so it was an improvement!