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 time (time)
Love (love), joy (joy)
I need space (love)
I need me (action!)
Say hello to the girl that I am
You're going to have to see through my perspective
I need to make mistakes just to learn who I am
And I don't want to be so damn protected
There must be another way
'Cause I believe in taking chances
But who am I to say
What a girl is to do?
God, I need some answers
What am I to do with my life?
(You will find it out don't worry)
How am I supposed to know what's right?
(You just got to do it your way)
I can't help the way I feel
But my life has been so overprotected
I'll tell them what I like, what I want, what I don't
But every time I do I stand corrected
Things that I've been told
I can't believe what I hear about the world, I realize
I'm overprotected
There must be another way
Cause I believe in taking chances
But who am I to say
What a girl is to do?
God, I need some answers
What am I to do with my life?
(You will find it out don't worry)
How am I supposed to know what's right?
(You just got to do it your way)
I can't help the way I feel
But my life has been so overprotected
I need time (love)
I need space
(This is it, this is it)
I don't need nobody telling me just what I wanna
What I, what, what, what I'm going to
Do about my destiny
I say no, no, nobody's telling me just
What, what, what I wanna do, do
I'm so fed up with people telling me to be
Someone else but me (Action!)
What am I to do with my life?
(You will find it out don't worry)
How am I supposed to know what's right?
(You just got to do it your way)
I can't help the way I feel
But my life has been so overprotected
I don't need nobody telling me just what I wanna
What I, what, what, what I'm going to
Do about my destiny
I say no, no, nobody's telling me just
What, what, what I wanna do, do
I'm so fed up with people telling me to be
Someone else but me
What am I to do with my life?
(You will find it out don't worry)
How am I supposed to know what's right?
(You just got to do it your way)
I can't help the way I feel
But my life has been so overprotected
Love (love), joy (joy)
I need space (love)
I need me (action!)
Say hello to the girl that I am
You're going to have to see through my perspective
I need to make mistakes just to learn who I am
And I don't want to be so damn protected
There must be another way
'Cause I believe in taking chances
But who am I to say
What a girl is to do?
God, I need some answers
What am I to do with my life?
(You will find it out don't worry)
How am I supposed to know what's right?
(You just got to do it your way)
I can't help the way I feel
But my life has been so overprotected
I'll tell them what I like, what I want, what I don't
But every time I do I stand corrected
Things that I've been told
I can't believe what I hear about the world, I realize
I'm overprotected
There must be another way
Cause I believe in taking chances
But who am I to say
What a girl is to do?
God, I need some answers
What am I to do with my life?
(You will find it out don't worry)
How am I supposed to know what's right?
(You just got to do it your way)
I can't help the way I feel
But my life has been so overprotected
I need time (love)
I need space
(This is it, this is it)
I don't need nobody telling me just what I wanna
What I, what, what, what I'm going to
Do about my destiny
I say no, no, nobody's telling me just
What, what, what I wanna do, do
I'm so fed up with people telling me to be
Someone else but me (Action!)
What am I to do with my life?
(You will find it out don't worry)
How am I supposed to know what's right?
(You just got to do it your way)
I can't help the way I feel
But my life has been so overprotected
I don't need nobody telling me just what I wanna
What I, what, what, what I'm going to
Do about my destiny
I say no, no, nobody's telling me just
What, what, what I wanna do, do
I'm so fed up with people telling me to be
Someone else but me
What am I to do with my life?
(You will find it out don't worry)
How am I supposed to know what's right?
(You just got to do it your way)
I can't help the way I feel
But my life has been so overprotected
Lyrics submitted by GuyMagniv, edited by decipherer
Overprotected Lyrics as written by Rami Yacoub Martin Karl Sandberg
Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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/
If only i can get my dad to listen to the lyrics of this song, he will realise that this song speaks the truth. It feels as though i have been overprotected by my dad who does not want me to take chances or make mistakes or listen to what others say. It drives me crazy! Im 22 years old and i feel as though my dad is still treating me like a child! This song is for all girls who want their overprotective dads to know how they feel! Its ace!!!!
Same here!
ok, i'm confused. How can britney release songs like these? Lets take this song and 'my prerogative' (which is obviously a copy but i'm going to assume she released it again because she felt like it applied to her) she's moaning about not having enough privacy and just wanting to be herself and being to protected. 1- without all that protection, (realistically) she'd probably be dead by now. Theres so many people who disagree with her music and 'entertainment' nowadays. (and these people are equally as stupid as britney herself) 2- in my prerogative she says "everybodies talking all this stuff about me". ok, so she's not talking about people when she 'sings' lines like these? she's not saying fuck off to certain people. I think that if she can release songs like these then other people have just as much right to bitch about her. And hey, atleast their open about it and dont have to rant about it in stupid songs, besides, these song's wouldnt have ever been possible without bitching from the world! 3-if she didn't want the attention, she shouldn't have joined the music industry.
oh and btw, i know this is the thing for her song 'overprotected' but in my prerogative she says "all these strange relationships really get me down, see nothing wrong spread myself around" you cant get much worse lyrics than that. She's saying all these little relationships arent my thing, but i'm gonna spread myself around and have lots more!
does anyone else get that?
@prettyinpunk8177 shut the hell up. You idiot.
This song really rocks!!!!! I absolutely love it!!!!! :)
BRITNEY SPEARS IS SHIT!!!!!!!!!!!!! SHE AMKES WANK MUSIC, AND SHE SHIT!!! Respect, SeanO!
@seano shut the hell up. You jerk
i really like this song. this isn't the kind of music i like, but i really have gained a new respect for britney. she's doing what she wants to do, and i think that is awesome. no more fake little school girl. she's awesome
I'm not really a britney fan but i actually like this song. just the fact that i'm overprotected and i've actually seen a lot of the things my parents don't want me to see, and i also notice that's it's entirely different then what they want you to think it is. Besides that the only other two songs that i can think of that make sense are, "what you see is what you get" (it reminds me of a possesive boyfriend i once had and i wish that song was out then so he might get the point) and not a girl not yet a woman, i hate listening to the song, but the lyrics make sense (to me anyways) they could always be written better, but whatever. good point broken sound
the word "rocks" is not an adjective that should be used when speaking of britney spears. it really is so sad to see her become so successful in such a short period of time when bands such as hot water music and new found glory have barely had a glimpse of mainstream success. but i guess that what makes these bands so amazing - they haven't been tainted by commercialism. i have only this to say regarding spears: she needs to stop whining and start learning how to write.
as much as i think britney is a plastic piece of shit, and i cant stand her, the second i heard this song i fell in love with it! it is a rilly great song and i can so totally relate to it
i think its a cool song...its got a good beat the lyrics are decent...i like it
I like this song, but what the hell is up with the video?! How does one get from running around a hotel or wherever in and "interesting" outfit which doesn't even match! to rolling on the ground in the rain? W/E like I don't have better things to do than sit and be a critic to Britney Spears' videos.