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.
There's a grey horse standin' still
As a soldier climbs in the saddle for one last ride
As the rain pours off his hat
You can see the shadows of the past written in his eyes
Now the cannons are silent
His friends are all gone
Gotta put it all behind him
If he ever wants to find his way home
He's the last rebel on the road
Just a boy with his old guitar
Keeps to himself but everybody takes him wrong
But he carries on
Got a dream that will never die
Can't change him, no use in stayin' where you don't belong
Now he's rollin' down the highway
Gone too far too fast
No one will ever find him, he'll never look back
[Chorus]
'cause he's the last rebel
And he's all alone
He's the last rebel
His friends are all gone
He's the last rebel
The last rebel on the road
There'll never be another like him
He's the last of a dying breed
Ain't no use in tryin' to tame him
'cause he's the last rebel
[Chorus]
As a soldier climbs in the saddle for one last ride
As the rain pours off his hat
You can see the shadows of the past written in his eyes
Now the cannons are silent
His friends are all gone
Gotta put it all behind him
If he ever wants to find his way home
He's the last rebel on the road
Just a boy with his old guitar
Keeps to himself but everybody takes him wrong
But he carries on
Got a dream that will never die
Can't change him, no use in stayin' where you don't belong
Now he's rollin' down the highway
Gone too far too fast
No one will ever find him, he'll never look back
[Chorus]
'cause he's the last rebel
And he's all alone
He's the last rebel
His friends are all gone
He's the last rebel
The last rebel on the road
There'll never be another like him
He's the last of a dying breed
Ain't no use in tryin' to tame him
'cause he's the last rebel
[Chorus]
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
The Last Rebel Lyrics as written by Johnny Van Zant Gary Rossington
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
obviously it's about the end of the Civil War when the South had very few men left....or if you look at it a different way..it could be about a lone Biker dude just driving down a road all alone....you never know
This song reminds me a lot bout my father who fought in the lebanese 17-year civil war that was in my opinion the most brutal war ever that resulted in the loss of more than 150000 lebanese lives and in which no one won in the end!!In my opinion my father was and still a hero because he fought for a cause that he believed in and for a change in the unfair lebanese system!
The song doesn't necessarily need to be historical.
A more existential approach might suggest a broader meaning, that of man's isolation in the face of his culture and traditions dying (or being killed) around him. Walker Percy-esque.
For us Southerners, the song expresses some of the frustrations we feel when witnessing the death of the culture that we love and that defines us. There's a definite, deliberate connection between past and present established in this song. In the beginning, the character is on a horse, in the rain, and images of cannons are evoked, seemingly implying the Civil War era. But in the last verse that really develops the story, the character is on a highway, going very fast on something that "rolls." Sounds like a car, which would be closer to the present.
Fucking yankees.
Skynyrd Rules! Keep On Rockin'
oh my, this song is absolutely pretty. Great vocals. suprised there hasn't been any comments.
I always thought this song was describing Gary Rossington, that last remaining original member of Lynyrd Skynyrd. "Just a boy and his old guitar..."
@RedDogElvis according to an interview I heard it is
I believe this song is actually about the whites vs the native Americans. Back then, the native Americans were rebels to the new Americans, who were trying to manifest destiny. When the natives refused to move, the Americans took most of their masses. In the song it mentions “the last of a dying breed”, which could mean confederate soldiers but I highly doubt it, considering natives were considered beasts by Americans. And it says, “just a boy with his old guitar, keeps to himself but everyone takes him wrong”, which I believe is referring to how the natives were innocent people who were mistaken as the enemies.
I stumbled on this song back when I was downloading using Limewire. Was a big Skynard fan, and loved it when I heard it. When I downloaded it, it was titled "Dale Earnhardt Tribute - The Last Rebel". \nLove it!
In an interview with Johnny van Zant, he stated they wrote this for the last rebel in the band Gary Rossington, who still tours with them today
I was at the concert when this album/CD came out. They said this song was about Gary Rossington.