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.
Did you see the stylish kids in the riot?
Shoveled up like muck and set the night on fire
Wombles bleed, truncheons and shields
You know I cherish you, my love
But there's a rumour spread nasty disease around town
You caught round the houses with your trousers down
A head rush in the bush
You know I cherish you, my love
Oh, how I cherish you, my love
Tell me what can you want now you've got it all
The whole scene is obscene
Time will strip it away
A year and a day
And Bill Bones
Bill Bones knows what I mean
He knows it's eating, it's chewing me up
It's not right for young lungs to be coughing up blood
And it's all
It's all in my hands
And it's all up the walls
Well the stale chips are up and the hope stakes are down
It's all these ignorant faces that bring this town down
And I sighed and sunken with pride
Well, I passed myself down on my knees
Yes, I passed myself down on my knees
Now tell me what can you want now you've got it all
The whole scene is obscene
Time will strip it away
A year and a day
And Bill Bones
Bill Bones knows what I mean
He knows there's fewer more distressing sights than that
Of an Englishman in a baseball cap
And we'll die in the class we were born
But that's a class of our own, my love
A class of our own, my love
Did you see the stylish kids in the riot?
Shoveled up like muck
Set the night on fire
Wombles bleed, truncheons and shields
You know I cherish you, my love
Yeah, I cherish you, my love
Shoveled up like muck and set the night on fire
Wombles bleed, truncheons and shields
You know I cherish you, my love
But there's a rumour spread nasty disease around town
You caught round the houses with your trousers down
A head rush in the bush
You know I cherish you, my love
Oh, how I cherish you, my love
Tell me what can you want now you've got it all
The whole scene is obscene
Time will strip it away
A year and a day
And Bill Bones
Bill Bones knows what I mean
He knows it's eating, it's chewing me up
It's not right for young lungs to be coughing up blood
And it's all
It's all in my hands
And it's all up the walls
Well the stale chips are up and the hope stakes are down
It's all these ignorant faces that bring this town down
And I sighed and sunken with pride
Well, I passed myself down on my knees
Yes, I passed myself down on my knees
Now tell me what can you want now you've got it all
The whole scene is obscene
Time will strip it away
A year and a day
And Bill Bones
Bill Bones knows what I mean
He knows there's fewer more distressing sights than that
Of an Englishman in a baseball cap
And we'll die in the class we were born
But that's a class of our own, my love
A class of our own, my love
Did you see the stylish kids in the riot?
Shoveled up like muck
Set the night on fire
Wombles bleed, truncheons and shields
You know I cherish you, my love
Yeah, I cherish you, my love
Lyrics submitted by iloveweezer
Time For Heroes Lyrics as written by Peter Doherty Carl Barat
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"there are fewer more distressing sights than that of an englishman in a baseball cap yeah we'll die in the class we were born that's a class of our own my love we're in a class of our own my love"
That bits about chavs, how upper/middle class kids act like the lower classes yet he's saying that no matter how you try to hide your identity, you'll die in the class you were born, if you're middle class you'll always be middle class.
The ironic thing is, Pete is from a middle class, somewhat wealthy family yet he acts like one of these working class "from the streets" type people.