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.
She said, I don't know if I've ever been good enough
I'm a little bit rusty, and I think my head is caving in
And I don't know if I've ever been really loved
By a hand that's touched me, and I feel like something's gonna give
And I'm a little bit angry
Well, this ain't over
No, not here, not while I still need you around
You don't owe me, we might change, yeah
Yeah, we just might feel good
I wanna push you around
Well I will, well I will
I wanna push you down
Well I will, well I will
I wanna take you for granted
Well, I wanna take you for granted, yeah
Yeah, well I will
I will
She said, I don't know why you ever would lie to me
Like I'm a little untrusting when I think that the truth is gonna hurt ya
And I don't know why you couldn't just stay with me
You couldn't stand to be near me when my face don't seem to wanna shine
'Cause it's a little bit dirty
Oh well, don't just stand there
Say nice things to me
'Cause I've been cheated, I've been wronged
And you, you don't know me, yeah
Well, I can't change, no
Well, I won't do anything at all
I wanna push you around
Well I will, well I will
I wanna push you down
Well I will, well I will
I wanna take you for granted, yeah
I wanna take you for granted, yeah
Yeah, well I will
Oh, but don't bowl me over
Just wait a minute, well it kinda fell apart
Things get so crazy, crazy
Don't rush this, baby
Don't rush this baby, baby
I wanna push you around
Well I will, well I will
I wanna push you down
Well I will, well I will
I wanna take you for granted, yeah, yeah, yeah
I wanna take you, take you
Yeah, well I will, I will, I will, I will, yeah
Well I will, I will, I will, yeah
Push you around and drag you down
I wanna push you around
Yeah, I will
I'm a little bit rusty, and I think my head is caving in
And I don't know if I've ever been really loved
By a hand that's touched me, and I feel like something's gonna give
And I'm a little bit angry
Well, this ain't over
No, not here, not while I still need you around
You don't owe me, we might change, yeah
Yeah, we just might feel good
I wanna push you around
Well I will, well I will
I wanna push you down
Well I will, well I will
I wanna take you for granted
Well, I wanna take you for granted, yeah
Yeah, well I will
I will
She said, I don't know why you ever would lie to me
Like I'm a little untrusting when I think that the truth is gonna hurt ya
And I don't know why you couldn't just stay with me
You couldn't stand to be near me when my face don't seem to wanna shine
'Cause it's a little bit dirty
Oh well, don't just stand there
Say nice things to me
'Cause I've been cheated, I've been wronged
And you, you don't know me, yeah
Well, I can't change, no
Well, I won't do anything at all
I wanna push you around
Well I will, well I will
I wanna push you down
Well I will, well I will
I wanna take you for granted, yeah
I wanna take you for granted, yeah
Yeah, well I will
Oh, but don't bowl me over
Just wait a minute, well it kinda fell apart
Things get so crazy, crazy
Don't rush this, baby
Don't rush this baby, baby
I wanna push you around
Well I will, well I will
I wanna push you down
Well I will, well I will
I wanna take you for granted, yeah, yeah, yeah
I wanna take you, take you
Yeah, well I will, I will, I will, I will, yeah
Well I will, I will, I will, yeah
Push you around and drag you down
I wanna push you around
Yeah, I will
Lyrics submitted by punkmebabygal
Push Lyrics as written by Robert Kelly Thomas Matthew Michael Ii Serletic
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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I think the song talks about a lady whose lover takes her for granted and always makes her feel low about herself. The normal thing she's to do is quit the relationship, instead she says "no!" not until I pay back all you've done to me in the past. She doesn't want the relationship to end without doing to the guy all he did to her.