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.
Taking a day at a time
Dealing with feelings I don't want to hide
Learning to love as I go, baby
Without taking you along for a ride, I
Tried to find myself
Tried to find the truth
Get out from this shell
Girl I'm almost there
To show you how much I really care
If you go say goodbye
There'll be something missing in my life
'Cause you know
That all I really want is you (you)
Sorry if you felt misled
But I know what I feel
I know what I said, baby
God I hope you believe
Believe in all that we can be
The future in us together in love
You're the reason I'm strong
Don't you think I don't know
This is where I belong
Give me the time
To say that you're mine
To say that you're mine
If you go say goodbye
There'll be something missing in my life
'Cause you know
That all I really want is you
All I really want is you
If you go say goodbye (say goodbye)
There'll be something missing in my life
'Cause you know ('cause you know)
That all I really want is you
Tried to find myself (tried to find myself)
Tried to find the truth
Get out from this shell
Girl I'm almost there
So let me show you, so let me show you
If you go say goodbye
There'll be something missing in my life (in my life)
'Cause you know (baby)
That all I really want is you (you)
(Baby) if you go say goodbye (say goodbye)
There'll be something missing in my life
'Cause you know (baby)
That all I really want is you (all I really)
(All I really want, all I really want is you)
If you go say goodbye
There'll be something missing in my life (in my life)
'Cause you know
That all I really want is you
Dealing with feelings I don't want to hide
Learning to love as I go, baby
Without taking you along for a ride, I
Tried to find myself
Tried to find the truth
Get out from this shell
Girl I'm almost there
To show you how much I really care
If you go say goodbye
There'll be something missing in my life
'Cause you know
That all I really want is you (you)
Sorry if you felt misled
But I know what I feel
I know what I said, baby
God I hope you believe
Believe in all that we can be
The future in us together in love
You're the reason I'm strong
Don't you think I don't know
This is where I belong
Give me the time
To say that you're mine
To say that you're mine
If you go say goodbye
There'll be something missing in my life
'Cause you know
That all I really want is you
All I really want is you
If you go say goodbye (say goodbye)
There'll be something missing in my life
'Cause you know ('cause you know)
That all I really want is you
Tried to find myself (tried to find myself)
Tried to find the truth
Get out from this shell
Girl I'm almost there
So let me show you, so let me show you
If you go say goodbye
There'll be something missing in my life (in my life)
'Cause you know (baby)
That all I really want is you (you)
(Baby) if you go say goodbye (say goodbye)
There'll be something missing in my life
'Cause you know (baby)
That all I really want is you (all I really)
(All I really want, all I really want is you)
If you go say goodbye
There'll be something missing in my life (in my life)
'Cause you know
That all I really want is you
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I don't know whjy I just thought of this song, if I just heard it or it came into my mind subconsciouly due to the situation or whatever. But when I looked up the lyrics it reminds me of a breakup with a guy I just went through. Before that it was just elevator or easy-listening music to me.
The guy I was dating was a lot younger than me (just over 10 years), just turned 24, and we broke up mostly because he wasn't really ready for/undediced about a long term relationship and also, didn't really know what it meant or took to be in one. When I read these lyrics, I felt like it was my ex-boyfriend saying them to me. But I just couldn't wait anymore for him to grow up and make up his mind that's what he wanted to do etc, because it translated into words and actions that would hurt me too badly. So, in the song the girl has the same frustrations in being with someone like that and I think that's what the guy is trying to tell the girl in the song, to wait for him to get to things figured out, because he does care about her though she wants to leave.
Yeah, these lyrics could have been paraphrased versions of what he said to me. "Sorry that you felt misled," he told me sometimes he could see a future for us together, then other times, he would say or do something to contradict that and hurt me, and then he would tell something like, "But I know what I feel, I know what I said, God, hope you believe Believe in all that we can be The future in us together in love"
I could reprint all the lyrics as to things he said but you get the point. From the other point of view though, sometimes it just hurts too much and a person just can't wait around anymore. :(
I love your interpretation.
I think this song is about misleading someone, to the point where they can't take it anymore. The girl finally leaves the guy, feeling either confused or underappreciated. He didn't want to deal with his feelings, and he's on the verge of losing her. Now, he realizes he needs her. And, he's begging her to stay because he's coming to terms with it.