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.
Oi Oi!
Hear that cry throughout the streets, you know just what it means
And even to the ignorant, it is what it seems
Through every city's backstreets the kids from all around
they all come to join the fight cause they know the sound
they all try to ignore us, but we wont let 'em win
the wankers try to put us down, but we'll come smashing in
cause we're what's right and they're full of shit
so we're running down the backstreets
oi oi oi
and we're running not afraid
oi oi oi
cause we all know that's the sound of the streets
oi oi oi
so we're running down the backstreets
oi oi oi
got our martins on our feets
oi oi oi
and you're allready down the backstreets with me
the kids they come from everywhere the new stage's all around
cause they all know what it means when they hear the sound
you know what to do when you hear the call
put your boots and earings on, kick down that fucking wall
you can listen to the politicians they'll lead you astray
you're gonna see the light and your gonna see the way
and then you'll know there's nothing like us
and we're running down the backstreets
oi oi oi
and we're never giving in
oi oi oi
cause we all know cause we're gonna fucking win
and we're running down the backstreets
oi oi oi
and we're hear to stay
oi oi oi
and we all know the firm are on they're way
they all try to ignore us but we wont let 'em win
the wankers try to put us down, but we'll come smashing in
cause we're what's right and they're full of shit
and we're running down the backstreets
oi oi oi
and we're running not afraid
oi oi oi
cause we all know that that's the sound of the streets
and we're running down the backstreets
oi oi oi
got our martins on our feet
oi oi oi
and you're allready down the backstreets with me
Hear that cry throughout the streets, you know just what it means
And even to the ignorant, it is what it seems
Through every city's backstreets the kids from all around
they all come to join the fight cause they know the sound
they all try to ignore us, but we wont let 'em win
the wankers try to put us down, but we'll come smashing in
cause we're what's right and they're full of shit
so we're running down the backstreets
oi oi oi
and we're running not afraid
oi oi oi
cause we all know that's the sound of the streets
oi oi oi
so we're running down the backstreets
oi oi oi
got our martins on our feets
oi oi oi
and you're allready down the backstreets with me
the kids they come from everywhere the new stage's all around
cause they all know what it means when they hear the sound
you know what to do when you hear the call
put your boots and earings on, kick down that fucking wall
you can listen to the politicians they'll lead you astray
you're gonna see the light and your gonna see the way
and then you'll know there's nothing like us
and we're running down the backstreets
oi oi oi
and we're never giving in
oi oi oi
cause we all know cause we're gonna fucking win
and we're running down the backstreets
oi oi oi
and we're hear to stay
oi oi oi
and we all know the firm are on they're way
they all try to ignore us but we wont let 'em win
the wankers try to put us down, but we'll come smashing in
cause we're what's right and they're full of shit
and we're running down the backstreets
oi oi oi
and we're running not afraid
oi oi oi
cause we all know that that's the sound of the streets
and we're running down the backstreets
oi oi oi
got our martins on our feet
oi oi oi
and you're allready down the backstreets with me
Lyrics submitted by honolulupunk
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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."
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,
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.
Just a quick note, it should be "Martens" not "martins", because they're talking about Doc Marten brand boots.