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.
My little girl, drive anywhere
Do what you want
I don't care
Tonight I'm in the hands of fate
I hand myself over on a plate
Now
Oh, little girl, there are times when I feel
I'd rather not be the one behind the wheel
Come, pull my strings
Watch me move, I do anything
Please
Sweet little girl, I prefer
You behind the wheel and me the passenger
Drive, I'm yours to keep
Do what you want, I'm going cheap
Tonight
You're behind the wheel tonight
You're behind the wheel tonight
You're behind the wheel tonight
You're behind the wheel tonight
You're behind the wheel tonight
Do what you want
I don't care
Tonight I'm in the hands of fate
I hand myself over on a plate
Now
Oh, little girl, there are times when I feel
I'd rather not be the one behind the wheel
Come, pull my strings
Watch me move, I do anything
Please
Sweet little girl, I prefer
You behind the wheel and me the passenger
Drive, I'm yours to keep
Do what you want, I'm going cheap
Tonight
You're behind the wheel tonight
You're behind the wheel tonight
You're behind the wheel tonight
You're behind the wheel tonight
You're behind the wheel tonight
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Actually i would say it's about someone close to him affraid of actualy doing what she wants. (He refers to her as sweet little girl, would seem odd if it were BDSM related no?)
More so i believe it's about the feeling you're always having to push someone to do things, while they won't just do them themselves even if they would want to.
There are times when I feel I rather not be The one behind the wheel
Suggest he usually is behind the weel and rather have it the other way around for a change.
ya i think this song is about how women always expect their man to do and think of everything. Its like Women expect men to know whats best for relationships etc, for once let the women go behind the wheel and figure out wtf needs to be done lol
thestamp: Then why this continously refering to the "little girl? It's definitely about relationships! And that NLMDA nonsense, that song is about drugs, and not about beeing unwilling to decide over your own actions.
We all feel insecure at one point or another in a relationship where you really can't tell if your thoughts and worries are true or not. This song is about this very point, when you need and let someone decide which path your life will continue on, "I'm in the hands of fate". The last "I'm going cheap" part is probably about that you will tolerate any decisions.
This song creates a scenario in my head with an established relationship between a dominant male and sumissive (and/or younger) female. He is tired of being on top and wants to bottom to her for awhile: "there are times when I feel I'd rather not be the one behind the wheel". I think he is usually on top because he's referring to her as "my little girl". It could be a number of scenerios but this one make the most sense to me, and I think it's really hot!
A man wants his girl to dominate for one night, "to be on top". It occures so often with men )
I don't think he wants global women domination or only his girl to dominate. He clearly says "tonight". I think there's no need to make this lyrics more complicate than they are )
Exactly!<br /> <br /> The word "tonight" makes all the difference.
This song is so about female domination. So many bits to this song refer to him wanting to be dominated, so he is willing to do whatever his girls asks.
I agree with butterflykiss. "Do what you want I'm going cheap ... You're behind the wheel tonight"
I think he doesn't actually refer to sex or to women. It's rather his attitude to life which from time to time makes him feel helplees and unwilling to do anything - it's his lack of will which we can also find in other songs like "Never let me down again", in which his friend drives (flies) an airplane and in which he likes being driven to places - he has no need to take steps or decisions - he rather lets other people do that for him. No responsibility, no need to be the one who decides (and makes mistakes maybe).
i don't think it's about a female domination... i think he's feeling very weak and hopeless and he asks her to help him, to 'take the wheel' in his moment of weakness...
...but it's actually my very first day of discovering DM and i might be wrong :)
Yea, I mean you can take the literal translation which is that he doesn't feel like choosing things but it can expand to his life. He is sick of making mundane and rather boring questions. I can totally understand that...