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.
Miss Mary Mac, Mac, Mac
All dressed in black, black, black
With silver buttons, buttons, buttons
All down her back, back, back
She asked her mom (Mother), mom (Mother), mom (Mother)
For 15 cents, cents, cents
To see the elephants, elephants, elephants
They jumped the fence, fence, fence
They jumped so high, high, high
They reached the sky, sky, sky
And never came back, back, back
'Til the 4th of July, lie, LIAR!
I'm sorry that I'm getting chubby
And I cannot always be happy for you
And I am not some lame sorority queen
Taking you home to meet my daddy
You collect your trust funds baby
And I'll be a whore
And we'll pretend we're just the same but
I know, I know, I know, I know
I know that I
I am hiding
The you I show to you is just a lie
You take what you want
You get what you take
You take what you want
You get what you take
But I've got something, man
That your fucking money cannot buy
You never know, never know, never know what
You never know, never know, never know what
You wanna take it but you can't have it
You don't know what it's like to be alive
(All dressed in black, black, black)
(With silver buttons, buttons, buttons)
(All down her back, back, back)
She asked her mother, mother mother
I could scream the truth if I wanted (For 15 cents, cents, cents)
Right through your lies
But your baseball bat wounds, razormouth (To see the elephants, elephants, elephants)
Carve your initials bloody in my thighs (They jumped so high, high, high)
Alright
See I knew it that time
You knew what the whole time?
What, they're laughing at us, God
I know, we're having fun
All dressed in black, black, black
With silver buttons, buttons, buttons
All down her back, back, back
She asked her mom (Mother), mom (Mother), mom (Mother)
For 15 cents, cents, cents
To see the elephants, elephants, elephants
They jumped the fence, fence, fence
They jumped so high, high, high
They reached the sky, sky, sky
And never came back, back, back
'Til the 4th of July, lie, LIAR!
I'm sorry that I'm getting chubby
And I cannot always be happy for you
And I am not some lame sorority queen
Taking you home to meet my daddy
You collect your trust funds baby
And I'll be a whore
And we'll pretend we're just the same but
I know, I know, I know, I know
I know that I
I am hiding
The you I show to you is just a lie
You take what you want
You get what you take
You take what you want
You get what you take
But I've got something, man
That your fucking money cannot buy
You never know, never know, never know what
You never know, never know, never know what
You wanna take it but you can't have it
You don't know what it's like to be alive
(All dressed in black, black, black)
(With silver buttons, buttons, buttons)
(All down her back, back, back)
She asked her mother, mother mother
I could scream the truth if I wanted (For 15 cents, cents, cents)
Right through your lies
But your baseball bat wounds, razormouth (To see the elephants, elephants, elephants)
Carve your initials bloody in my thighs (They jumped so high, high, high)
Alright
See I knew it that time
You knew what the whole time?
What, they're laughing at us, God
I know, we're having fun
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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.
its not about any of that its about a bad relationship with people who are vet different one has money and looks the other has respect