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.
Every time I try to tell you how I feel inside
I always make the same mistakes
Tie myself in knots
Sometimes even make you cry
When all I ever want to say
Is nobody else in the whole wide world
Makes me feel this way
Nobody else in the whole wide world
Takes my breath away
Makes me feel so strange inside
Dazed confused and starry-eyed
I couldn't love you more
Makes me feel the wrong way round
Inside out and upside down
I couldn't love you more
And every time I try to tell you what I really mean
Nothing seems to come out right
End up murmuring foolishly
It makes me want to scream
How I get so stupefied
There's nobody else in the whole wide world
Makes me feel this way
There's nobody else in the whole wide world
Takes my breath away
Makes me feel so strange inside
Open mouthed and mystified
I couldn't love you more
Makes me feel so upside down
Muddle-headed round and round
I couldn't love you more
Makes me feel so strange inside
Dazed confused and starry-eyed
I couldn't love you more
Makes me feel the wrong way round
Inside out and upside down
I couldn't love you more
I always make the same mistakes
Tie myself in knots
Sometimes even make you cry
When all I ever want to say
Is nobody else in the whole wide world
Makes me feel this way
Nobody else in the whole wide world
Takes my breath away
Makes me feel so strange inside
Dazed confused and starry-eyed
I couldn't love you more
Makes me feel the wrong way round
Inside out and upside down
I couldn't love you more
And every time I try to tell you what I really mean
Nothing seems to come out right
End up murmuring foolishly
It makes me want to scream
How I get so stupefied
There's nobody else in the whole wide world
Makes me feel this way
There's nobody else in the whole wide world
Takes my breath away
Makes me feel so strange inside
Open mouthed and mystified
I couldn't love you more
Makes me feel so upside down
Muddle-headed round and round
I couldn't love you more
Makes me feel so strange inside
Dazed confused and starry-eyed
I couldn't love you more
Makes me feel the wrong way round
Inside out and upside down
I couldn't love you more
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
it's actually a b-side to mint car ;) love the song though.