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.
Don't bother saying you're sorry.
Why don't you come in?
Smoke all my cigarettes, again.
Every time I get no further.
How long has it been?
Come on in now,
Wipe your feet on my dreams.
You take up my time,
Like some cheap magazine,
When I could have been learning something.
Oh well, you know what I mean.
I've done this before.
And I will do it again.
Come on and kill me baby,
While you smile like a friend.
And I'll come running,
Just to do it again.
You are the last drink I never should drunk.
You are the body hidden in the trunk.
You are the habit I can't seem to kick.
You are my secrets on the front page every week.
You are the car I never should have bought.
You are the train I never should have caught.
You are the cut that makes me hide my face.
You are the party that makes me feel my age.
Like a car crash I can see but I just can't avoid.
Like a plane I've been told I never should board.
Like a film that's so bad but I've gotta stay til the end.
Let me tell you now,
It's lucky for you that we're friends.
Like a car crash I can see but I just can't avoid.
Like a plane I've been told I never should board.
Like a film that's so bad but I've gotta stay til the end.
Let me tell you now,
It's lucky for you that we're friends.
Why don't you come in?
Smoke all my cigarettes, again.
Every time I get no further.
How long has it been?
Come on in now,
Wipe your feet on my dreams.
You take up my time,
Like some cheap magazine,
When I could have been learning something.
Oh well, you know what I mean.
I've done this before.
And I will do it again.
Come on and kill me baby,
While you smile like a friend.
And I'll come running,
Just to do it again.
You are the last drink I never should drunk.
You are the body hidden in the trunk.
You are the habit I can't seem to kick.
You are my secrets on the front page every week.
You are the car I never should have bought.
You are the train I never should have caught.
You are the cut that makes me hide my face.
You are the party that makes me feel my age.
Like a car crash I can see but I just can't avoid.
Like a plane I've been told I never should board.
Like a film that's so bad but I've gotta stay til the end.
Let me tell you now,
It's lucky for you that we're friends.
Like a car crash I can see but I just can't avoid.
Like a plane I've been told I never should board.
Like a film that's so bad but I've gotta stay til the end.
Let me tell you now,
It's lucky for you that we're friends.
Lyrics submitted by lorienmarene, edited by bob1166000
Like a Friend Lyrics as written by Jarvis Branson Cocker Candida Doyle
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Unrequited love is horrible, especially when it's for someone who is just a friend. Ever have someone you love ditch or flake out on you as a friend and then come back, and your love overrides common sense and you take them back, only to have them crush you again? Yeah, that's beyond horrible. But what's worse is when there's an element of exploitation. You love her, she's your world, but, alas, you're just friends...only not. She's only a friend because she needs your love, adoration, affection, attention, money, friendship, support, whatever. But if you need her she's not there. And when your services are no longer needed, she's gone forever. Despite all this, if she came back, you'd be dumb enough to let the cycle continue. Why not? There were probably warning signs at the beginning, but you ignored them, and you were dumb enough to put up with it before and you'll do it again.
Yeah, I've been there a couple times, and this song perfectly articulates that. Funny thing is, the strange bird who got me into Pulp is one of them.
this is a PERFECT statement of what it's like. :/
I can't believe they're actually playing this song live on the reunion tour. They HAVE to bring it to America. And it was used so perfectly on the season finale of the Venture Bros.
they did bring it to america. and dedicated it to jackson publick and doc hammer. urbaniak (voice of dr venture) posted it to his twitter this afternoon. way awesome.
This is on the "Great Expectations" Soundtrack. It plays during the Seen where Finn is Sketching Estella.
this song represents classic "tragic love", stronger in one person's heart than in the other's. this woman causes him so much pain but he's addicted to loving her although the love she returns is cruel "like a film that's so bad but i've got to stay 'til the end"
ugh. perfect song.
Unrequited love sums it up.
If anybody has ever read the Charles Dickens book they would feel the emotion that is in this song. My personal feeling is that the song was written with the film in mind but inspired by the book. I did not really like the modern make over the film gave.
Most people at some stage come across somebody they love dearly but for one reason or another the person wont return the love that is felt, becoming best friends but nothing more. This song sums it all up – “wipe your feet on my dreams”, all these things that are so bad for you but you’ve got to have and keep coming back for more like an addiction “and I’ll come running just to do it again”
This has to be up there as one of the best Pulp songs. But the best Pulp song depends upon the mood I am in and how I feel. There are so many. And as for the band in concert well – saw them 4 times and every time thought they were absolutely amazing and the best live band I’ve ever seen. PS read great expectations!
Unrequited love sums it up.
If anybody has ever read the Charles Dickens book they would feel the emotion that is in this song. My personal feeling is that the song was written with the film in mind but inspired by the book. I did not really like the modern make over the film gave.
Most people at some stage come across somebody they love dearly but for one reason or another the person wont return the love that is felt, becoming best friends but nothing more. This song sums it all up – “wipe your feet on my dreams”, all these things that are so bad for you but you’ve got to have and keep coming back for more like an addiction “and I’ll come running just to do it again”
This has to be up there as one of the best Pulp songs. But the best Pulp song depends upon the mood I am in and how I feel. There are so many. And as for the band in concert well – saw them 4 times and every time thought they were absolutely amazing and the best live band I’ve ever seen. PS read great expectations!
one of my favourite choons by Pulp, i'm glad they included it on the album! it seems with all the narrator's been thru with this girl, he still loves her.
i've said the line "It's lucky for you that we're friends." to a girlfriend before, just kidding. i believe this choon is not so much literal, but tongue-in-cheek.
classic Pulp.
this song fits pj ladd's part perfectly. it's amazing.
Outside the context of this film, and more personally to Jarvis, I have always thought it was self-referential of the 20+ years that he has spent in Pulp and how it "takes up his time, like some cheap magazine"...Pulp...magazine...see?
Maybe I'm looking into it too much, but this is what it has always meant to me. If it wasn't written for the film then I'd be tempted to believe that was it's original meaning, or if it was, maybe this was in the back of his mind anyway...?