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.
Driving south 'round midnight, man, I must have been insane
Driving south 'round midnight in a howling hurricane
I stopped for an old man hitcher at a lonely old crossroad
He said "I'm going nowhere
I'm only here to see if I can steal your soul"
"I'm not trying to make you, I don't want to touch your skin
I know all there is to know about you and all your sins
Well, you ain't too young or pretty, and yer sure as hell can't sing
Any time you want to sell your soul
I've got a toll-free number you can ring"
Yeah, that's what I thought he said anyway
"I'm not trying to make you, I don't want to touch your skin
I know all there is to know about you and all your sins
Well, you ain't too young or pretty, and yer sure as hell can't sing
Any time you want to sell your soul
I've got a toll-free number you can ring"
0 800 treble six, oh yeah
0 800 treble six, oh yeah
I stopped for an old man hitcher at a lonely old crossroads
He said "I'm going nowhere
I'm only here to see if I can steal your soul"
He got!
Driving south 'round midnight in a howling hurricane
I stopped for an old man hitcher at a lonely old crossroad
He said "I'm going nowhere
I'm only here to see if I can steal your soul"
"I'm not trying to make you, I don't want to touch your skin
I know all there is to know about you and all your sins
Well, you ain't too young or pretty, and yer sure as hell can't sing
Any time you want to sell your soul
I've got a toll-free number you can ring"
Yeah, that's what I thought he said anyway
"I'm not trying to make you, I don't want to touch your skin
I know all there is to know about you and all your sins
Well, you ain't too young or pretty, and yer sure as hell can't sing
Any time you want to sell your soul
I've got a toll-free number you can ring"
0 800 treble six, oh yeah
0 800 treble six, oh yeah
I stopped for an old man hitcher at a lonely old crossroads
He said "I'm going nowhere
I'm only here to see if I can steal your soul"
He got!
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