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.
They ask me why I’m hateful, why I’m bad. They tell me I got
things they never had. They tell me go to church and see the light.
Cos the good lord’s always right.
Well, so what, so what
So what if Jesus died on the cross. So what about the fucker, I
don’t give a toss. So what if the master walked on the water. I
don’t see him trying to stop the slaughter.
They say I wouldn’t have to live from bins. If I would go along,
confess my sins. They say I shouldn’t commit no crime. Cos
Jesus Christ is watching all the time.
So what, so what.
So what if he’s always over my shoulder. I realise the truth as I
get older. I get to see what a con it is. Because it’s my life, mine
not his.
We’ll they say they’re going to send me away. Said they’re going
to make me pay. We’re sorry but you have to go. You were
naughty, you said ‘NO’.
So what, so what.
So what if I see through the lies. So what if the people I despise
twist my arm and make me work, I’m no deaf, dumb fucking Jerk.
I’m no spastic lying in the street. I’m no superstar elite. I’m just a
person, a human being.
NO YOU’RE NOT YOU’RE A PART OF OUR MACHINE.
You’re a part of our machine because we want you to be. We’ve
got you now and you’ll never be free. We can even have your
body after you’re dead. We can take the eyes out of your fucking
head. Yes we’ll take them out, use them again. We can do it you
know cos we’ve got your brain. We’ll crucify you like we crucified
him. We’ll make you obey our every whim. We got the power, the
power and the glory. I’ve heard that before in a different story.
But the story I heard covered up the truth, didn’t touch on the
actual factual proof. Didn’t say about the bodies in the
concentration camps, didn’t say about the surgeon knives
underneath the lamps, doesn’t say that the ovens are still warm,
doesn’t say that this wretched little form is a human being who
wants to live but not in the snot and shit they give.
They say that I had better keep quiet or they’re gonna douse my
light. Jesus Christ can save my life, but I can always use my
knife.
So what, so what, so what, so what, so what, so what, SO WHAT
things they never had. They tell me go to church and see the light.
Cos the good lord’s always right.
Well, so what, so what
So what if Jesus died on the cross. So what about the fucker, I
don’t give a toss. So what if the master walked on the water. I
don’t see him trying to stop the slaughter.
They say I wouldn’t have to live from bins. If I would go along,
confess my sins. They say I shouldn’t commit no crime. Cos
Jesus Christ is watching all the time.
So what, so what.
So what if he’s always over my shoulder. I realise the truth as I
get older. I get to see what a con it is. Because it’s my life, mine
not his.
We’ll they say they’re going to send me away. Said they’re going
to make me pay. We’re sorry but you have to go. You were
naughty, you said ‘NO’.
So what, so what.
So what if I see through the lies. So what if the people I despise
twist my arm and make me work, I’m no deaf, dumb fucking Jerk.
I’m no spastic lying in the street. I’m no superstar elite. I’m just a
person, a human being.
NO YOU’RE NOT YOU’RE A PART OF OUR MACHINE.
You’re a part of our machine because we want you to be. We’ve
got you now and you’ll never be free. We can even have your
body after you’re dead. We can take the eyes out of your fucking
head. Yes we’ll take them out, use them again. We can do it you
know cos we’ve got your brain. We’ll crucify you like we crucified
him. We’ll make you obey our every whim. We got the power, the
power and the glory. I’ve heard that before in a different story.
But the story I heard covered up the truth, didn’t touch on the
actual factual proof. Didn’t say about the bodies in the
concentration camps, didn’t say about the surgeon knives
underneath the lamps, doesn’t say that the ovens are still warm,
doesn’t say that this wretched little form is a human being who
wants to live but not in the snot and shit they give.
They say that I had better keep quiet or they’re gonna douse my
light. Jesus Christ can save my life, but I can always use my
knife.
So what, so what, so what, so what, so what, so what, SO WHAT
Lyrics submitted by krushzed
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
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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"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
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Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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the best fucking song ever.
RIGHT ON.
this is the first real song the band ever wrote. after steve read penny's 30-page book 'reality asylum' (which was later shortened into a spoken word piece), he went away and came back to penny a few hours later with 'so what?'. so the two of them started writing songs together and recording them and soon some of their friends and some people staying in penny's commune joined and stormtrooper was formed, which became crass.
so what about the fucker, i don't give a toss!
Yep. I got fuck all to add to that.
I love this song
What a fucking song
SO WHAT.
My favorite Crass song. It gets ridiculously intense in the second half. It makes my spine tingle.
once again we see the true all mity crass. this song fucking rips.