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.
Sorta like a toothache Hit all the nerves that make me quake
Highly suggestive hints you deliver
make the air turn hot
Make the air turn hot and yet I shiver
She always had a special friend and I always had another
But no matter what rival school we always had each other
Never loved outside our minds
Never even such to scare
But I'd trade my tapped out heartbreaks for one more class with her again
From the aisle and to the right
Seat 6 Row 17
I fell in love with her way to cool to be a dream
From outward life appearance
You wouldn't think I was too cool
But subtlety is the best lesson I ever learned in school
Yeah, subtlety is the best lesson I ever learned in school
Arch her back and squirm in her chair
Fake a yawn to catch my stare
No one else in class new this
but in that yard we shared a kiss
I close my eyes and sink in my chair
From the aisle and to the right
Seat 6 Row 17
I fell in love with her way to cool to be a dream
From outward life appearance
You wouldn't think I was too cool
But subtlety is the best lesson I ever learned in school
Yeah, subtlety is the best lesson I ever learned in school
Sorta like a toothache
Do anything to make me quake
Highly suggestive hints you deliver
make the air turn hot
Make the air turn hot and yet I shiver
From the aisle and to the right
Seat 6 Row 17
I fell in love with her way to cool to be a dream
From outward life appearance
You wouldn't think I was too cool
But subtlety is the best lesson I ever learned in school
Yeah, subtlety is the best lesson I ever learned in school
Subtlety is the best lesson I ever learned in school
Highly suggestive hints you deliver
make the air turn hot
Make the air turn hot and yet I shiver
She always had a special friend and I always had another
But no matter what rival school we always had each other
Never loved outside our minds
Never even such to scare
But I'd trade my tapped out heartbreaks for one more class with her again
From the aisle and to the right
Seat 6 Row 17
I fell in love with her way to cool to be a dream
From outward life appearance
You wouldn't think I was too cool
But subtlety is the best lesson I ever learned in school
Yeah, subtlety is the best lesson I ever learned in school
Arch her back and squirm in her chair
Fake a yawn to catch my stare
No one else in class new this
but in that yard we shared a kiss
I close my eyes and sink in my chair
From the aisle and to the right
Seat 6 Row 17
I fell in love with her way to cool to be a dream
From outward life appearance
You wouldn't think I was too cool
But subtlety is the best lesson I ever learned in school
Yeah, subtlety is the best lesson I ever learned in school
Sorta like a toothache
Do anything to make me quake
Highly suggestive hints you deliver
make the air turn hot
Make the air turn hot and yet I shiver
From the aisle and to the right
Seat 6 Row 17
I fell in love with her way to cool to be a dream
From outward life appearance
You wouldn't think I was too cool
But subtlety is the best lesson I ever learned in school
Yeah, subtlety is the best lesson I ever learned in school
Subtlety is the best lesson I ever learned in school
Lyrics submitted by ZeeAap
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
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."
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.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.