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.
Do you remember the last time I said
If I ever thought about lying,
I'd rather think of dying instead
And maybe you remember the last time you called me
To say we were through
How it took a million tears
Just to prove they all were for you
But those days are through
'Cause it wouldn't have made any difference,
If you loved me
How could you love me
When it wouldn't really make any difference,
If you really loved me
You just didn't love me
'Cause I know of hundreds of times I could be
In the most unfaithful arms that you always picture me
And maybe you remember that
Though I can't always show proof I was true
No one else could change my mind or
Stop me coming home to you
But those days are through
You just did not love me enough to believe me
Enough not to leave me
Enough not to look for a reason to be unhappy with me
And make me regret ever wanting you
But those days are through
If I ever thought about lying,
I'd rather think of dying instead
And maybe you remember the last time you called me
To say we were through
How it took a million tears
Just to prove they all were for you
But those days are through
'Cause it wouldn't have made any difference,
If you loved me
How could you love me
When it wouldn't really make any difference,
If you really loved me
You just didn't love me
'Cause I know of hundreds of times I could be
In the most unfaithful arms that you always picture me
And maybe you remember that
Though I can't always show proof I was true
No one else could change my mind or
Stop me coming home to you
But those days are through
You just did not love me enough to believe me
Enough not to leave me
Enough not to look for a reason to be unhappy with me
And make me regret ever wanting you
But those days are through
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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First heard this song on the Almost Famous OST/in said movie, instantly fell in love with the man's music. That's my story on how I (accidentally, no less) discovered mister rundgren! :)
I heard Alison Krauss' cover of this Todd Rundgren song today. She has such a wonderful way of making a song her own. I'd like to think Todd would be very pleased.
From what I can tell, Todd's writing about the girl who left him. She was just too insecure to really love him. He loved her. He understood her concern about his life on the road but, in the end, her concerns were just an excuse not to love him. C'est la vie.
No one has commented on such a beautiful song. Probably a girl left him and he was so down and depressed, he wrote this masterpiece. Good vocals, good tune. Very underrated
Great stuff to me, it sounds like the girl left him and she’s giving out excuses to get out. cause if she loved him, it would not have a difference.
I think Todd's saying that even if the girl had 'loved' him, it wouldn't have made a difference 'cause she really couldn't have loved him. He was devoted to her, but it was all an act for her and not a very good one (she wasn't convincing). But he looked over that and tried to make the relationship work.
This song is clearly written from the ex-girlfriend’s point of view. The guy was imaging the girl (ex) talking about their sad relationship from the way he treated her, which was bad like accusing her, and not believing in her … Somehow, I feel that the guy had a reason behind him for deliberately treating his ex badly so that she will leave him eventually because it was impossible for him to be with her. I think he is a coward. Though, the girl never knew the reason behind the guy for doing this but she just remembered what happened during the relationship which was described in the song.
I removed all the “But those days are through” because when the guy wrote this song, he had already broke up with the girl, that is why those days were through In a way, it was relieving for both of them..
The girl goes:
Do you remember the last time I said If I ever thought about lying, Id rather think of dying instead
(He accused (deliberately) the girl of lying and she was trying to prove him wrong.)
And maybe you remember the last time you called me To say we were through How it took a million tears Just to prove they all were for you
(He called the girl to break up with her and he knew deep down inside his heart that she cried the whole night and for that, I think he knew she was true to him)
cause it wouldnt have made any difference, If you loved me How could you love me When it wouldnt really make any difference, If you really loved me You just didnt love me
(The girl pondered if he really loves her, all these shouldn’t be happening. But still, she didn’t know he did all these deliberately. She kept pondering and pondering)
cause I know of hundreds of times I could be In the most unfaithful arms that you always picture me And maybe you remember that Though I cant always show proof I was true No one else could change my mind or Stop me coming home to you
(These lines were saying the guy kept accusing the girl for many things which were not true about her wrongdoings. But instead of hating him, she still wanted to be with him. All because she didn’t know he did all these deliberately and he wouldn’t let her know because he was a coward)
You just did not love me enough to believe me Enough not to leave me Enough not to look for a reason to be unhappy with me And make me regret ever wanting you
(The girl reasoned out with the guy in her inner voice and giving conclusion. But what she didn’t know was the guy was deliberately accusing her because he has some reason with makes him thinks that it will be very difficult for him to be with her. And like what I said, he wouldn’t let her know. And as she/he sings, but those days were through, it gives a feeling of how relieving it is for both of them)
I was the coward : (
Sorry, shoexy, but that is one convoluted and rambling explanation. The song is not written in the perspective of the girl; that makes no sense. Why would Todd sing pretending to be his ex-girlfriend? When he says "I" he means "I, Todd" and the "you" is the girlfriend. He is singing about how, during their relationship, he was always reassuring her about how faithful and honest and devoted he was, but it wasn't enough for her and then she called to break it off. This song is Todd speaking to his ex-girlfriend again, telling her that he never loved him enough to trust him, so "those days are through;" he will not be taking her back. Interesting interpretation but again, it's too convoluted. People don't sing songs in the perspective of their boyfriend/girlfriend; only from their own.
Sometimes, when a guy really really loves a girl or the other way round and because of some unthinkable reasons, they cant be together, which is something really sad, he/she will tend to repeat what their partner used to say to them when they are no longer together. So in this song, the guy was singiner what he thinks the girl might say to him when the broke up.
I didn't really - ever love you. You were pathetic.