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.
if you really wanna know
what i want in a guy
well im looking for a dream on a mean machine with hell in his eyes
i want a devil the skins tight lether
he's gunna be wild as the wind
and one fine night
i'll be holdin on tight
to a coooooool rider
a coooool rider
if he's cool enough he can burn me through and through
whoooaaa
if it takes forever
then i'll wait for ever
no ordinary boy, no ordinary boy is gunna do
i want a riider thats true
thats the way its gunna be
thats the way that i feel
i want a whole lot more then the boy next door
i want hell on wheels
just give me a fly motorcycle
with a man rolling out of the seat
move aside, cuz im gunna ride
with a coooool rider
a coooool rider
if he's cool enough he can burn me through and through
whoooaaa
if it takes forever
then i'll wait for ever
no ordinary boy, no ordinary boy is gunna do
i want a riider thats true
i dont want no ordinary guys
coming on strong with me
they dont know what im looking for they dont know what i need
they're gunna know when he gets here cuz the crowd will be shaking
id do anytghing to let him know that im his, his for the day
i wanna coool rider a cool cool cool cool rider
i wanna coool rider a cool cool cool cool rider
i want a c-o-o-l r-i-d-e-r
i need a c-o-o-l r-i-d-e-r
i want a coool rider a cool cool cool cool rider
i want a coool rider a cool cool cool cool rider
i want a c-o-o-l r-i-d-e-r
i need a c-o-o-l r-i-d-e-r
what i want in a guy
well im looking for a dream on a mean machine with hell in his eyes
i want a devil the skins tight lether
he's gunna be wild as the wind
and one fine night
i'll be holdin on tight
to a coooooool rider
a coooool rider
if he's cool enough he can burn me through and through
whoooaaa
if it takes forever
then i'll wait for ever
no ordinary boy, no ordinary boy is gunna do
i want a riider thats true
thats the way its gunna be
thats the way that i feel
i want a whole lot more then the boy next door
i want hell on wheels
just give me a fly motorcycle
with a man rolling out of the seat
move aside, cuz im gunna ride
with a coooool rider
a coooool rider
if he's cool enough he can burn me through and through
whoooaaa
if it takes forever
then i'll wait for ever
no ordinary boy, no ordinary boy is gunna do
i want a riider thats true
i dont want no ordinary guys
coming on strong with me
they dont know what im looking for they dont know what i need
they're gunna know when he gets here cuz the crowd will be shaking
id do anytghing to let him know that im his, his for the day
i wanna coool rider a cool cool cool cool rider
i wanna coool rider a cool cool cool cool rider
i want a c-o-o-l r-i-d-e-r
i need a c-o-o-l r-i-d-e-r
i want a coool rider a cool cool cool cool rider
i want a coool rider a cool cool cool cool rider
i want a c-o-o-l r-i-d-e-r
i need a c-o-o-l r-i-d-e-r
Lyrics submitted by pinz
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
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i agree with xxDeathOfBeauty
this song i know every word 2. i was singing it in my classes last week b/c it just popped into my head.havnt seen the movie in forever though.lol