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.
Look up, look up, look up now
It's a long way down
Look up, look up, look up now
It's a long way down
You fail, you fail to see now
What you need the most
Making a meal of me now
You're the perfect host
This lot, this lot have messed you around
This lot, this lot have messed you about
Open your arms and welcome people to your town
Look up, look up, look up now
Well it's a long way down
This lot, this lot have messed you around
Oh this lot, this lot have messed you around
Oh this lot, this lot have messed you around
Oh this lot, oh this lot have messed you around
Messed you around
Open your arms and welcome
Open your arms and welcome
Open your arms and welcome
Open your arms and welcome
Open your arms and welcome
Open your arms and welcome
Open your arms and welcome
Open your arms and welcome
Open your arms and welcome people to your town
Open your arms and welcome people to your town
It's a long way down
Look up, look up, look up now
It's a long way down
You fail, you fail to see now
What you need the most
Making a meal of me now
You're the perfect host
This lot, this lot have messed you around
This lot, this lot have messed you about
Open your arms and welcome people to your town
Look up, look up, look up now
Well it's a long way down
This lot, this lot have messed you around
Oh this lot, this lot have messed you around
Oh this lot, this lot have messed you around
Oh this lot, oh this lot have messed you around
Messed you around
Open your arms and welcome
Open your arms and welcome
Open your arms and welcome
Open your arms and welcome
Open your arms and welcome
Open your arms and welcome
Open your arms and welcome
Open your arms and welcome
Open your arms and welcome people to your town
Open your arms and welcome people to your town
Lyrics submitted by stella.the.diver
Open Your Arms Lyrics as written by Edward Owen Lay Christopher Dominic Urbanowicz
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think this one's about someone who's been screwed over on numerous occasions for a long time, but maybe he's saying that 'you' should just try and look past it and welcome whoever and whatever with open arms and a smiling face. More or less, anyways.
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I agree with the above comments to be honest, but listening to the song itself i have to say he sounds kinda rejected to the idea, sorta like he's resigned to the fact that regardless of how crappy people get treated you have to just roll with the punches, and maybe he's questioning why life has to be this way? thats my take on it anyways, great tune by the way!!
Pretty much agree with what's been said already.
However another way I've looked at it - perhaps it's somebody weighing up what he has been advised with his own experiences. He is advised to always welcome people into his life with open arms but he's finding it a struggle when he looks at how he's been treated when doing so in the past.
Or - maybe Tom is referring to society's refusal to accept people. He is talking about somebody that has been mistreated throughout their life and he is pleading to the listener to make the difference and 'open their arms and welcome'.