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.
Driving in to Darlington County
Me and Wayne on the Fourth of July
Driving in to Darlington County
Looking for some work on the county line
We drove down from New York City
Where the girls are pretty but they just want to know your name
Driving in to Darlington City
Got a union connection with an uncle of Wayne's
We drove eight hundred miles without seeing a cop
We got rock and roll music blasting off the T-top
Singing
Sha la la
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la, hey eh
Sha la la
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la
Hey little girl, standing on the corner
Today's your lucky day for sure, all right
Me and my buddy, we're from New York City
We got two hundred dollars, we want to rock all night
Girl, you're looking at two big spenders
Why the world don't know what me and Wayne might do
Our pa's each own one of the World Trade Centers
For a kiss and a smile, I'll give mine all to you
Come on bab,y take a seat on my fender
It's a long night and tell me what else were you gonna do?
Just me and you, we could
Sha la la
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la
Sha la la
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la
Little girl, sitting in the window
Ain't seen my buddy in seven days (play it boys)
County man tells me the same thing
He don't work and he don't get paid
Little girl, you're so young and pretty
Walk with me and you can have your way
And we'll leave this Darlington City
For a ride down that Dixie Highway
Driving out of Darlington County
Eyes seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
Driving out of Darlington County
Seen Wayne handcuffed to the bumper of a state trooper's Ford (woo)
Sha la la
Sha la la la la (ooh yeah)
Sha la la la la la la (big man)
Sha la la (where's he going?)
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la (come on)
Sha la la
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la
Sha la la
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la
Sha la la
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la
Sha la la (woo)
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la (yeah, we gonna die, woo)
Sha la la
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la (hey, yeah, hey, yeah)
Sha la la
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la
Me and Wayne on the Fourth of July
Driving in to Darlington County
Looking for some work on the county line
We drove down from New York City
Where the girls are pretty but they just want to know your name
Driving in to Darlington City
Got a union connection with an uncle of Wayne's
We drove eight hundred miles without seeing a cop
We got rock and roll music blasting off the T-top
Singing
Sha la la
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la, hey eh
Sha la la
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la
Hey little girl, standing on the corner
Today's your lucky day for sure, all right
Me and my buddy, we're from New York City
We got two hundred dollars, we want to rock all night
Girl, you're looking at two big spenders
Why the world don't know what me and Wayne might do
Our pa's each own one of the World Trade Centers
For a kiss and a smile, I'll give mine all to you
Come on bab,y take a seat on my fender
It's a long night and tell me what else were you gonna do?
Just me and you, we could
Sha la la
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la
Sha la la
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la
Little girl, sitting in the window
Ain't seen my buddy in seven days (play it boys)
County man tells me the same thing
He don't work and he don't get paid
Little girl, you're so young and pretty
Walk with me and you can have your way
And we'll leave this Darlington City
For a ride down that Dixie Highway
Driving out of Darlington County
Eyes seen the glory of the coming of the Lord
Driving out of Darlington County
Seen Wayne handcuffed to the bumper of a state trooper's Ford (woo)
Sha la la
Sha la la la la (ooh yeah)
Sha la la la la la la (big man)
Sha la la (where's he going?)
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la (come on)
Sha la la
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la
Sha la la
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la
Sha la la
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la
Sha la la (woo)
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la (yeah, we gonna die, woo)
Sha la la
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la (hey, yeah, hey, yeah)
Sha la la
Sha la la la la
Sha la la la la la la
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
Darlington County Lyrics as written by Bruce Springsteen
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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this is one of the happiest songs of all time. it's about adventure, those days where you and your buddy just hit the road looking for something, anything to do. sure wayne gets arrested, but as LCD soundsystem says, "I wouldn't trade one stupid decision for another five years of life"