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.
Drive, He Said
On a desert road that steamed the sky
with the windows up and the air on high
I was off the stage, I was on the mend
with a solo drive to a holiday weekend
my thirsty car came to a stop at the Reptile Gardens Curio Shop
when a wind came hissing through the vents,
and I felt my sneakers growing tense
my forehead broke in a cold, cold sweat--
in the rearview mirror was a silhouette
then I heard the doorlocks take a dive
and a whisper screamed "Don't turn around, just drive"
Scratch! Dressed in red--pointy tail and horn-rimmed head
and a widow's peak like Eddie Munster
I sat frozen in my seat--"We haven't had the chance to meet...
are you a singing telegram or something?"
he just flashed a hellish smile--"Let's go driving for a while"
he held something in his hand I'd never seen before
it was my Chevrolet's pink slip
Scratch! Evil eye
"Step on it, boy, if you want to stay alive" he said
"Don't look surprised, you know what I want
I've lived for years inside your trunk, so drive" he said
"Let's get talking business, son--you ain't fooling anyone
I know just what you want to be--now it's time to work for me, so drive"
If this is a nasty dream
I'd prefer to wake up here
I believe the point is clear...
Scratch! Out of my car!
He said "Ha! I've come too far...
besides, I kinda like the velour seatcovers"
God, help me! What do I do?
"Shut up boy, it's too late for you...now drive!
all you phonies get it wrong--double lives take half us long
should have kept your windows clean--now I'm part of this machine
you've got a good 80,000 miles left
before the recall..."
If this is a nasty dream
I believe the point's quite clear
I'd prefer to wake up here
I started humming Amazing Grace
he said "Come on, boy, give me a break"
so I hit the brakes with both my feet
and sent two horns through the bucket seat
then the locks shot up as the grace came down
I said "Here's the keys--I'll be walking back to town..."
On a desert road that steamed the sky
with the windows up and the air on high
I was off the stage, I was on the mend
with a solo drive to a holiday weekend
my thirsty car came to a stop at the Reptile Gardens Curio Shop
when a wind came hissing through the vents,
and I felt my sneakers growing tense
my forehead broke in a cold, cold sweat--
in the rearview mirror was a silhouette
then I heard the doorlocks take a dive
and a whisper screamed "Don't turn around, just drive"
Scratch! Dressed in red--pointy tail and horn-rimmed head
and a widow's peak like Eddie Munster
I sat frozen in my seat--"We haven't had the chance to meet...
are you a singing telegram or something?"
he just flashed a hellish smile--"Let's go driving for a while"
he held something in his hand I'd never seen before
it was my Chevrolet's pink slip
Scratch! Evil eye
"Step on it, boy, if you want to stay alive" he said
"Don't look surprised, you know what I want
I've lived for years inside your trunk, so drive" he said
"Let's get talking business, son--you ain't fooling anyone
I know just what you want to be--now it's time to work for me, so drive"
If this is a nasty dream
I'd prefer to wake up here
I believe the point is clear...
Scratch! Out of my car!
He said "Ha! I've come too far...
besides, I kinda like the velour seatcovers"
God, help me! What do I do?
"Shut up boy, it's too late for you...now drive!
all you phonies get it wrong--double lives take half us long
should have kept your windows clean--now I'm part of this machine
you've got a good 80,000 miles left
before the recall..."
If this is a nasty dream
I believe the point's quite clear
I'd prefer to wake up here
I started humming Amazing Grace
he said "Come on, boy, give me a break"
so I hit the brakes with both my feet
and sent two horns through the bucket seat
then the locks shot up as the grace came down
I said "Here's the keys--I'll be walking back to town..."
Lyrics submitted by Cherub Rock
Drive, He Said Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © Capitol CMG Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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