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.
Well
Some people try to pick up girls
And get called asshole
This never happened to Pablo Picasso
He could walk down your street
And girls could not resist to stare
And so Pablo Picasso was never called an asshole
Well, the girls would turn the color of an avocado
When he would drive down their street
In his El Dorado
He could walk down your street
And girls could not resist to stare
Pablo Picasso never got called an asshole
Not like you
Alright
Well he was only five foot three
But girls could not resist to stare
Pablo Picasso never got called an asshole
Not in New York
Ah, well
Show me not, smock me not, obnoxious me not, bell bottom, bummer or asshole
Remember the story of Pablo Picasso
He could walk down your street
And girls could not resist to stare
Pablo Picasso was never called an asshole
All right, this is it
Well
Some people try to pick up girls
And get called an asshole
This never happened to Pablo Picasso
He could walk down your street
And girls could not resist to stare
And so Pablo Picasso was never called
Some people try to pick up girls
And get called asshole
This never happened to Pablo Picasso
He could walk down your street
And girls could not resist to stare
And so Pablo Picasso was never called an asshole
Well, the girls would turn the color of an avocado
When he would drive down their street
In his El Dorado
He could walk down your street
And girls could not resist to stare
Pablo Picasso never got called an asshole
Not like you
Alright
Well he was only five foot three
But girls could not resist to stare
Pablo Picasso never got called an asshole
Not in New York
Ah, well
Show me not, smock me not, obnoxious me not, bell bottom, bummer or asshole
Remember the story of Pablo Picasso
He could walk down your street
And girls could not resist to stare
Pablo Picasso was never called an asshole
All right, this is it
Well
Some people try to pick up girls
And get called an asshole
This never happened to Pablo Picasso
He could walk down your street
And girls could not resist to stare
And so Pablo Picasso was never called
Lyrics submitted by erik.yefeng, edited by two sheds1
Pablo Picasso Lyrics as written by Jonathan Richman
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Pablo Picasso got called an asshole all the time, just never to his face. In fact, I think he's more famous today for being an asshole than for his art. Short man's disease, etc.