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.
I want my money back! I want my money back!
It's all or nothing, and nothing's all I ever get
Everytime I turn it on, I burn it up and burn it out
It's always something, there's always something going wrong
That's the only guarantee, that's what this is all about
It's a never ending attack, everything's a lie and that's a fact
Life is a lemon and I want my money back
And all the morons and all the stooges with their coins
They're the ones who make the rules,
It's not a game, it's just a rout
There's desperation, there's desperation in the air
It leaves a stain on all your clothes
And no detergent gets it out
And we're always slipping thru the cracks
Slippin'
Then the movie's over, fade to black
Life is a lemon and I want my money back
I want my money back, I want my money back
What about love?
It's defective - it's always breaking in half
What about sex?
It's defective - it's never built to really last
What about your family?
It's defective - all the batteries are shot
What about your friends?
They're defective - all the parts are out of stock
What about hope?
It's defective - it's corroded and decayed
What about faith?
It's defective - it's tattered and it's frayed
What about your Gods?
They're defective - They forgot the warranty
What about your town?
It's defective - it's a dead end street to me
What about your school?
It's defective - it's a pack of useless lies
What about your work?
It's defective - it's a crock and then you die
What about your childhood?
It's defective - it's dead and buried in the past
What about your future?
It's defective - and you can shove it up your ass!
I want my money back - life is a lemon
I want my money back - life is a lemon, life is a lemon
It's all or nothing, and nothing's all I ever get
Everytime I turn it on, I burn it up and burn it out
It's a never ending attack,
Everything's a lie and that's a fact
Life is a lemon and I want my money back
And we're always slipping thru the cracks
Slippin'
Then the movie's over, fade to black
Life is a lemon and I want my money back
Back, back, back, back!
I want my money back, I want my money back
Life is a lemon
It's all or nothing, and nothing's all I ever get
Everytime I turn it on, I burn it up and burn it out
It's always something, there's always something going wrong
That's the only guarantee, that's what this is all about
It's a never ending attack, everything's a lie and that's a fact
Life is a lemon and I want my money back
And all the morons and all the stooges with their coins
They're the ones who make the rules,
It's not a game, it's just a rout
There's desperation, there's desperation in the air
It leaves a stain on all your clothes
And no detergent gets it out
And we're always slipping thru the cracks
Slippin'
Then the movie's over, fade to black
Life is a lemon and I want my money back
I want my money back, I want my money back
What about love?
It's defective - it's always breaking in half
What about sex?
It's defective - it's never built to really last
What about your family?
It's defective - all the batteries are shot
What about your friends?
They're defective - all the parts are out of stock
What about hope?
It's defective - it's corroded and decayed
What about faith?
It's defective - it's tattered and it's frayed
What about your Gods?
They're defective - They forgot the warranty
What about your town?
It's defective - it's a dead end street to me
What about your school?
It's defective - it's a pack of useless lies
What about your work?
It's defective - it's a crock and then you die
What about your childhood?
It's defective - it's dead and buried in the past
What about your future?
It's defective - and you can shove it up your ass!
I want my money back - life is a lemon
I want my money back - life is a lemon, life is a lemon
It's all or nothing, and nothing's all I ever get
Everytime I turn it on, I burn it up and burn it out
It's a never ending attack,
Everything's a lie and that's a fact
Life is a lemon and I want my money back
And we're always slipping thru the cracks
Slippin'
Then the movie's over, fade to black
Life is a lemon and I want my money back
Back, back, back, back!
I want my money back, I want my money back
Life is a lemon
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
The greatest bad ass song ever written!!!!
Ahem. What is rule number one of Fight Club? ;)
I think you already broke it.
whilst this song is about politicians n others tryin 2 control us its also about how you feel when nothins goin right for you. sometrimes it does feel like lifes a lemon and theres nothing good in life. its a fantastic song and i always listen 2 it when i'm in a bad mood or upset
god I love this negative song! it fits perfectly when youre pissed off at everything around you. Perfect in every way..
this song defines the bad attitude just get away from me or i will kill you mood. garbojen is right. its a pissy mood song
I think it speaks for itself...
As depressing and negative as it is - it's still one of his best songs - especially when performed live!
@zoton Totally True! I’ve listened to it a lot today already...pumps me up! But then, I always find myself REALLY wanting my money/life/time back (from a specific jerk) and then there’s like a ‘come down’ as I know all I can do is carry on. He won’t get caught. He’ll never reflect back on his transgressions made against us. But, I get fired up again because he’s history to me! And, mostly I think: He’s still (name withheld) and I’d rather be Me; even with all crap he left me to do and stole and, on and on....so, I listen Again, just for the fun of that powerful song!
you know your stuff zoton IIIIIIIII WANT MY MONEY BACK!!!!
you know your stuff zoton IIIIIIIII WANT MY MONEY BACK!!!!
like others have already said this is a great song when your in a bad mood. in fact i actually find it puts me in a good mood. i mean you can't really take the lyrics too seriously, i find them really funny. meat loaf is comparing life to a movie (a lemon). its such an exageration its almost satiric. the message i get from this song is to stop feeling sorry for my self and get on with life. coz i aint gonna get no refund :)