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.
What you see, you can get
Nothing's free, nothing's said
Don't be fooled by the signs
Don't read in between the lines
What you're gonna say
What you're gonna do
Now you've missed out once again
But I thought you knew
Oh, you silly thing
You've really gone and done it now
Oh, you silly thing
You really gone and done it now
Trouble here, trouble there
People stop just to stare
What's the use of wasting time
Just move on, leave 'em all behind
What you're gonna say
What you're gonna do
Now you've missed out once again
But I thought you knew
Oh, you silly thing
You've really gone and done it now
Oh, you silly thing
You've really gone and done it now
Can't you ever depend
On someone you call a friend
When you see the naked eyes
You don't even ask 'em why
You don't even ask 'em why
Oh, you silly thing
You've really gone and done it now
Oh, you silly thing
You've really gone and done it now
Nothing's free, nothing's said
Don't be fooled by the signs
Don't read in between the lines
What you're gonna say
What you're gonna do
Now you've missed out once again
But I thought you knew
Oh, you silly thing
You've really gone and done it now
Oh, you silly thing
You really gone and done it now
Trouble here, trouble there
People stop just to stare
What's the use of wasting time
Just move on, leave 'em all behind
What you're gonna say
What you're gonna do
Now you've missed out once again
But I thought you knew
Oh, you silly thing
You've really gone and done it now
Oh, you silly thing
You've really gone and done it now
Can't you ever depend
On someone you call a friend
When you see the naked eyes
You don't even ask 'em why
You don't even ask 'em why
Oh, you silly thing
You've really gone and done it now
Oh, you silly thing
You've really gone and done it now
Lyrics submitted by spunkykitten
Silly Thing Lyrics as written by Steve Jones Paul Cook
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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oh you silly thing you've really gone and done it now isn't it?
why has noone commented on this song!? its great!
^^^^^ Agreed.
Cook wasnt a bad singer either, as exampled by this song!
IT WAS ORIGNALLY GNA BE CALLED SILLY CUNT BY I FORGOT WHY IT WASN'T
I think this song is about teenage confusion.
"What you see, you can get Nothing's free, nothing's said" You can get what you want, whatever it is within reason. You just have to work for it.
"Don't be fooled by the signs Don't read in between the lines" Seeing or hearing something that correlates with your insecurities or with your train of thought that in your head, means something deeper but in reality the only thing there is face value.
"What you're gonna say What you're gonna do Now you missed that once again But of course you knew" After hearing somebody say something, confusion arises about what was meant and you aren't going to do or say anything but you'll think on it and you missed something, possibly part of the conversation but perhaps you still believe in what you thought they meant.
"People stop just to stare" Feeling like everybody is staring at you
"What's the use of wasting time Just move on, leave 'em all behind" Thinking back to a time and regretting whatever you did in that situation and that you should just move on and leave your thought alone because there's nothing you can do now.
"Can't you ever depend On someone you call a friend" Calling somebody a friend, but not trusting them.