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.
Hear them saying that a lot is a lot
You think it's all that matters
You've done your math well
You checked the figures
You've done your math tell
Who is the bigger
Man can't explain it but you got a hunch
Well, that's always something
Climb up the ladder
Step up a notch
Climb up the ladder then
See what you got
But if you do it, do it good, Brutus
Real good!
Like a little man should!
Did your homework and you worked the mob
Because it's all you can do
Tried for a lot still you have a little
What happened mister you couldn't figure
Out of the rut you still can't get it right
Can't get a lot for a little?
You keep on trying and you end up in the middle
Had an enigma ended up with a riddle
But if you do it, do it good, Brutus
REAL GOOD
Like a little man SHOULD
Rewind and look at what you got
Had ambition but you lost the plot
Judas Brutus Quisling time has come to do
What's expected of you
You think it's all that matters
You've done your math well
You checked the figures
You've done your math tell
Who is the bigger
Man can't explain it but you got a hunch
Well, that's always something
Climb up the ladder
Step up a notch
Climb up the ladder then
See what you got
But if you do it, do it good, Brutus
Real good!
Like a little man should!
Did your homework and you worked the mob
Because it's all you can do
Tried for a lot still you have a little
What happened mister you couldn't figure
Out of the rut you still can't get it right
Can't get a lot for a little?
You keep on trying and you end up in the middle
Had an enigma ended up with a riddle
But if you do it, do it good, Brutus
REAL GOOD
Like a little man SHOULD
Rewind and look at what you got
Had ambition but you lost the plot
Judas Brutus Quisling time has come to do
What's expected of you
Lyrics submitted by punkrockchick217
B Is for Brutus Lyrics as written by Randy Fitzsimmons
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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."
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
Song about traitors and backstabbers. Good song
Yeah Brutus was the guy that betrayed Caesar.. Clever song
Yeah Brutus was the guy that betrayed Caesar.. Clever song
Yes, Brutus betrayed Ceaser. He was also his best friend. He organized a killing because he felt Ceaser was letting power get to his head and it was for the good of the country to remove him.
After this Marc Anthony led a revolution against Brutus and his counter-part (Cassius, i believe) and Brutus fled. As the toops were approacing, rather than become captive, he commanded his servant to hold out his sword as Brutus impaled himself upon it. I think this is what they mean at the end when they say "Time has come to do what's expected of you."
Might also want to mention that the term Quisling after Vidkun Quisling, the pro-nazi head of Norway's government during the nazi occupation.
This song is absolutely insane. I did look up Quisling to see if it fits with the whole Judas/Brutus thing... fits perfectly. From wikipedia:
"In some European languages, the term 'Quisling' has become a synonym for traitor, particularly one who collaborates with invaders."
okay, everybody that commented the above has got it basically right, but i have a different interpretation of Brutus' side of the story.
(Marcus Junius) Brutus didn't really want to kill Caesar. Brutus and Caesar were BFFs basically, and it was Brutus' peers that were trying to convince him of Caesar's "evil". It was all propaganda. Brutus was pressured by the other senators, namely because of Brutus' famous ancestor, Lucius Junius Brutus. His ancestor, LJ Brutus, was very revered and famous for overthrowing the last King of Rome. everybody was told to believe that Caesar wanted to be the next king (although Caesar didnt even WANT to be king.), so everybody assumed Marcus Brutus to follow in his ancestor's footsteps and kill Caesar.
that is what the last stanza means:
"rewind and look at what you got had ambition but you lost the plot Judas/Brutus/Quisling, time has come to do what's expected of you"
this is basically Brutus' situation. he was really eager to make himself a legend, but didn't want to betray his best friend Caesar, but people are telling him that it's time to live up to what everyone believes is his "fate". its expected of him to follow in his ancestor's footsteps.
this ends another rant from a Latin student.
I love the song, but I think that "Brutus" stands only to show how far the guy in question is ready to go in order to succeed in "climbing the ladder". I don't think it fits in the Caesar story otherwise. Hence the song is about a man who wants to become important in whatever he does, not by means of working, but by sweet talking to bosses and stepping over dead bodies (figuratively).