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.
Just when everything was making sense
You took away all my self confidence
Now all that I've been hearing must be true
I guess I'm not the only boy for you
(That's what I get)
How could you turn us into this?
After you just taught me how to kiss you
I told you I'd never say goodbye
I'm slipping on the tears you made me cry
But that's what I get
(That's what I get)
Why does it come as a surprise?
To think that I was so naive
Maybe didn't mean that much
But it meant everything to me
(That's what I get)
You took away all my self confidence
Now all that I've been hearing must be true
I guess I'm not the only boy for you
(That's what I get)
How could you turn us into this?
After you just taught me how to kiss you
I told you I'd never say goodbye
I'm slipping on the tears you made me cry
But that's what I get
(That's what I get)
Why does it come as a surprise?
To think that I was so naive
Maybe didn't mean that much
But it meant everything to me
(That's what I get)
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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,
Let's be honest. I think everyone can relate to this song.
While I agree that this song is a little "whiny," what do you expect? Mental pain is often, if not always, a lot harder to get over than any physical wound. Cuts will scab over, scratches will heal, and there's always the option of taking a painkiller if it starts to get too intense. But you don't always have that option emotionally. Emotionally, you just have to sit there and take it. You have to suffer through every second of melodramatic hell (because it does feel like hell when you're going through it), pondering your own sanity and your ability to get through a situation that you had hoped and prayed you would never have to find yourself in--and you have no choice but to bitterly endure it.
And so, you do the only thing you can do to keep yourself sane: you acknowledge your own torment and you find a way to try and deal with it.
This is how Trent did that.
god, trent reznor is a fucking god. its almost as though.. hes the only person in the world who understands how i feel. Pretty Hate Machine is a fucking work of art. shrug to me, yeah its about being heart-broken. but "thats what i get" its like.. thats what i get, for putting my trust in someone, and thinking it was okay to love someone. and you get comfortable, and you're happy. and then the other person fucks you over. and thats what you get.
This song is about feeling overwhelmingly sad because someone, the one you loved and trusted, has betrayed you. You blame yourself for your hurt feelings because looking back, you realize how naive you were. How could you have let someone hurt you so bad? "That's what I get." ::sniffle:: Yes, I can relate to this song.
This song is based on a heartbreak (obviously). Right when everything had come together for him and started working out right, his lover threw it all away, and he's saying that's what he gets for falling for someone who would do that.
This song exposes a more vulnerable side of Trent Reznor- it's beautiful
I think it's funny how he calls himself a boy when he's what, 20-something when he wrote this?
I agree with Perky's interpretation.
At first I liked this song, then I didn't, then I really listened to it and I like it again. Heh.
This song is hilariously cheesy and whiny. One of the few cringe-worthy moments in NiN history, which is alright considering it's on his first album...
Catchy beat tho.
I don't think this song is about putting your faith in just anybody it's about the fact that the person you put it in wasn't as trustworthy as you'd like to believe and deep down you knew it. "Whys it come as a surprise to think that I was so naive" for me it's about a total loss of faith in humanity because of just one person that you really wanted to believe in more than anything, because that's what love is. All or nothing, and at least for me it's about accepting that maybe you don't know everything right out of the gate in life and you just have to admit you screwed up. Moving on and rethinking your criteria for a significant other so it doesn't happen again to you in the future (or me haha). Anyways it's not whiny if you take it in context instead of indulging in your own ability to separate yourself from other people's emotions. It may not ever hold as true for me as it does right now in my life, but hey that's kinda why I like it. It got me through one of the biggest obstacles I've ever had to overcome.
heart being broken yet again
promises made and then broken.
Not always intentionally.
Why is it always that what I get ?