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.
Dutty Yo!
Fi di gal dem again yuh know
Buss di world ! Buss di world
Dutty yo!
Dutty dutty dutty shot a fall again
Because di gal dem a hackle mi
[Chorus]
Follow back a mi dem wah tackle mi dem well wah saddle mi
Dem a walk wit a strategy
Hafi fi get di dutty family up ina dem bed dem a carry mi
And di gal dem a hackle mi
Dem follow back a mi dem wah tackle mi dem well wah saggle mi
And dem a walk wit a strategy
Hafii get di dutty family up ina dem bed dem a carry me
Nuff man a mi enemy true dem gal a gimmie
Well it's no wonder a mi dem follow true dem love dutty
Dem feel mi straight up ina dem center man a wuk muckey
And now dem feel unhappy true dem got di wrong jockey
Di gal dem a tell mi seh a only Sean a follow we
Dem outa dem mind Dem want mi all di time
A true dem know seh di dutty well refined
Dem tell mi seh a mi dem wah get
Mi a dem target
Everyday dem wah tek set
A true di dutty dem a gal sex object
Instant spot check
Gal dem wah run mi to wreck
A true dem hackle mi
[Chorus]
And now di gal dem a plan fi utilize di cup
Dem get minutes of endless supply a wuk
Size mi up and dem all a tell mi seh points deduct
If it nuh buck up dem stomach mek dem maximize weh dem a run to
Sensimenia mek mi meaner when mi mix it wit medina
Wuk Celena mek she write it ina di Gleaner seh mi fittah and mi leanah
Than Mr. Greena
And now her freind dem a run mi dung around di town a look fi mi
A true dem hackle mi
[Chorus]
From left to right di gal dem a fight an over mi dem get dem hype
Gimmie mi stripe and dem a tell mi seh a mi dem really like
Mi a dem type
Mi a dem light
Dem wah mi guide dem home tonight
Seven miles, wuk dem right
Dondemite get ignite
True dem hakle mi
[Chorus]
Nuff man a mi enemy true dem gal a gimmie
Well it's no wonder a mi dem follow true dem love dutty
Dem feel mi straight up ina dem center man a wuk muckey
And now dem feel unhappy true dem got di wrong jockey
Di gal dem a tell mi seh a only Sean a follow we
Dem outa dem mind Dem want mi all di time
A true dem know seh di dutty well refined
Dem tell mi seh a mi dem wah get
Mi a dem target
Everyday dem wah tek set
A true di dutty dem a gal sex object
Instant spot check
Gal dem wah run mi to wreck
A true dem hackle mi
Fi di gal dem again yuh know
Buss di world ! Buss di world
Dutty yo!
Dutty dutty dutty shot a fall again
Because di gal dem a hackle mi
[Chorus]
Follow back a mi dem wah tackle mi dem well wah saddle mi
Dem a walk wit a strategy
Hafi fi get di dutty family up ina dem bed dem a carry mi
And di gal dem a hackle mi
Dem follow back a mi dem wah tackle mi dem well wah saggle mi
And dem a walk wit a strategy
Hafii get di dutty family up ina dem bed dem a carry me
Nuff man a mi enemy true dem gal a gimmie
Well it's no wonder a mi dem follow true dem love dutty
Dem feel mi straight up ina dem center man a wuk muckey
And now dem feel unhappy true dem got di wrong jockey
Di gal dem a tell mi seh a only Sean a follow we
Dem outa dem mind Dem want mi all di time
A true dem know seh di dutty well refined
Dem tell mi seh a mi dem wah get
Mi a dem target
Everyday dem wah tek set
A true di dutty dem a gal sex object
Instant spot check
Gal dem wah run mi to wreck
A true dem hackle mi
[Chorus]
And now di gal dem a plan fi utilize di cup
Dem get minutes of endless supply a wuk
Size mi up and dem all a tell mi seh points deduct
If it nuh buck up dem stomach mek dem maximize weh dem a run to
Sensimenia mek mi meaner when mi mix it wit medina
Wuk Celena mek she write it ina di Gleaner seh mi fittah and mi leanah
Than Mr. Greena
And now her freind dem a run mi dung around di town a look fi mi
A true dem hackle mi
[Chorus]
From left to right di gal dem a fight an over mi dem get dem hype
Gimmie mi stripe and dem a tell mi seh a mi dem really like
Mi a dem type
Mi a dem light
Dem wah mi guide dem home tonight
Seven miles, wuk dem right
Dondemite get ignite
True dem hakle mi
[Chorus]
Nuff man a mi enemy true dem gal a gimmie
Well it's no wonder a mi dem follow true dem love dutty
Dem feel mi straight up ina dem center man a wuk muckey
And now dem feel unhappy true dem got di wrong jockey
Di gal dem a tell mi seh a only Sean a follow we
Dem outa dem mind Dem want mi all di time
A true dem know seh di dutty well refined
Dem tell mi seh a mi dem wah get
Mi a dem target
Everyday dem wah tek set
A true di dutty dem a gal sex object
Instant spot check
Gal dem wah run mi to wreck
A true dem hackle mi
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