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.
Get out of the car
Put down the phone
Take off that stupid looking hat you wear
I'm going to die if you touch me one more time
Well I guess that I'm going to die no matter what
Love people are there
The smell of love is everywhere
You think it's always sensitive and good
You think that I want to be understood
I've got a match
Your embrace and my collapse
Beat up the cat if you need someone else on the mat
I put a rock in the coffee in your coffee mug
Which one of us is the one that we can't trust?
You say that I think it's you but I don't agree with that
Love people are there
The smell of love is everywhere
You think it's always sensitive and good
You think that I want to be understood
I've got a match
Your embrace and my collapse
even when we get along
I've got a match
Your embrace and my collapse
Love people are there
The smell of love is everywhere
Why can't you be sensitive and good
Why don't you want to be understood
I've got a match
Your embrace and my collapse
I've got a match
Your embrace and my collapse
Put down the phone
Take off that stupid looking hat you wear
I'm going to die if you touch me one more time
Well I guess that I'm going to die no matter what
Love people are there
The smell of love is everywhere
You think it's always sensitive and good
You think that I want to be understood
I've got a match
Your embrace and my collapse
Beat up the cat if you need someone else on the mat
I put a rock in the coffee in your coffee mug
Which one of us is the one that we can't trust?
You say that I think it's you but I don't agree with that
Love people are there
The smell of love is everywhere
You think it's always sensitive and good
You think that I want to be understood
I've got a match
Your embrace and my collapse
even when we get along
I've got a match
Your embrace and my collapse
Love people are there
The smell of love is everywhere
Why can't you be sensitive and good
Why don't you want to be understood
I've got a match
Your embrace and my collapse
I've got a match
Your embrace and my collapse
Lyrics submitted by qshapadooy
I've Got a Match Lyrics as written by John Linnell John Flansburgh
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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It's hard to tell what it's about, it really needs more lyrics. :) It sounds like to me that it is about two people, let's call them him and her. She wants to be with him but he is either not interest/disgusted by her, or by the whole concept of love.
But I don't know where this line fits into that theory "Beat up the cat if you need someone else on the mat"