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.
You've got a lotta nerve to say you are my friend
When I was down you just stood there grinnin'
You've got a lotta nerve to say you got a helping hand to lend
You just want to be on the side that's winnin'
You say I let you down, ya know its not like that
If you're so hurt, why then don't you show it?
You say you've lost your faith, but that's not where its at
You have no faith to lose, and ya know it
I know the reason, that you talked behind my back
I used to be among the crowd you're in with
Do you take me for such a fool, to think I'd make contact
With the one who tries to hide what he don't know to begin with?
You see me on the street, you always act surprised
You say "how are you?", "good luck", but ya don't mean it
When you know as well as me, you'd rather see me paralyzed
Why don't you just come out once and scream it
No, I do not feel that good when I see the heartbreaks you embrace
If I was a master thief perhaps I'd rob them
And tho I know you're dissatisfied with your position and your place
Don't you understand, its not my problem?
I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment I could be you
Yes, I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes
You'd know what a drag it is to see you
When I was down you just stood there grinnin'
You've got a lotta nerve to say you got a helping hand to lend
You just want to be on the side that's winnin'
You say I let you down, ya know its not like that
If you're so hurt, why then don't you show it?
You say you've lost your faith, but that's not where its at
You have no faith to lose, and ya know it
I know the reason, that you talked behind my back
I used to be among the crowd you're in with
Do you take me for such a fool, to think I'd make contact
With the one who tries to hide what he don't know to begin with?
You see me on the street, you always act surprised
You say "how are you?", "good luck", but ya don't mean it
When you know as well as me, you'd rather see me paralyzed
Why don't you just come out once and scream it
No, I do not feel that good when I see the heartbreaks you embrace
If I was a master thief perhaps I'd rob them
And tho I know you're dissatisfied with your position and your place
Don't you understand, its not my problem?
I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes
And just for that one moment I could be you
Yes, I wish that for just one time you could stand inside my shoes
You'd know what a drag it is to see you
Lyrics submitted by democracys
Positively 4th Street Lyrics as written by Bob Dylan
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think this song is about a passive aggressive, manipulative friend who always knows what to say and goes through all the motions but, in the end, that person is no friend at all. He/she is toxic.
It feels great to recognize people like that and to finally get rid of them from your life!!
It's about how hard it is to take the high road when you have to break up with a friend or group. Clearly Dylan feels this friend is toxic: he thinks the friend has a "lot of nerve" for just standing around when Dylan needed a friend, "talking behind my back", and being jealous ("you know as well as me you'd rather see me paralyzed") and petty ("You just want to be on the side that's winnin'")), etc. But Dylan wants to repair the relationship. But the problem is he knows it won't make a difference. The friend is a total poser and just pretends like everything is ok: "You see me on the street, you always act surprised; Ya say 'how are you'", "good luck", but ya don't mean it." What the friend needs to do is tell Dylan to his face what his grievances are. but the friend "tries to hide what he don't know to begin with", i.e. the grievances. So Dylan knows he'd be a fool to make a contact with this person. Particularly since the person's grievances are unfair and petty. The problems really don't have to do with Dylan but with the friend being "dissatisfied with your position and your place", which really isn't Dylan's "problem". But Dylan is still sympathetic, he does not "feel good when he sees the heartbreaks his friend embraces". He'd even like to fix the problems. But he knows he can't; he'd have to be a master thief to "rob" the friend of his negative thoughts. That's why it's such a "drag" to see this "friend". The friend is just not reasonable. Of course, if you see yourself in this song, then it might feel like a giant middle finger being pointed at you. And that's the genius of the song.
@bananabee you took the words right out of my head.