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.
Well, hold steady Ybor City
You're up to your neck in the sweat and wet confetti
If you want to get a little bit light in the heady
It's gonna have to get a little bit heavy
They're jamming jet skis into the jetty now
With some guy who looks like Rocco Siffredi
And I've heard he's been dead once already
It's going down right now in Lowertown
They're skipping off the good ship U.S.S.S.S.S.S.S.S.S. Sexuality
Searching for the merchant with the five second delivery
They're slipping soft rock into their setlist now
They got some new guy that looks just like Phil Lynott
We're stumbling but I think we're still in it
It's a big world, girl, and I can't understand it
We're tiny white specks in a bright blue planet
I was a teenage ice machine
I kept it cool in coolers and I drank until I dreamed
And when I dream, I always dream about the scene
All these kids they look like little lambs looking up at me
I was a Twin Cities trash bin
I did everything they'd give me
I'd jam it into my system
She got me cornered by the kitchen
And I said I'll do anything but listen
To some weird-talking chick who just can't understand
That we're hot soft spots on a hard rock planet
Baby, take off your beret
Everyone's a critic and most people are DJs
And everything gets played
Working backwards from the doctor to the drugs
From the packie to the taxi, to the cabbie, to the club
A thousand kids will fall in love in all these clubs tonight
A thousand other kids will end up gushing blood tonight
Two thousand kids won't get all that much sleep tonight
Two thousand kids they still feel pretty sweet tonight
Yeah, and I still feel pretty sweet
You're up to your neck in the sweat and wet confetti
If you want to get a little bit light in the heady
It's gonna have to get a little bit heavy
They're jamming jet skis into the jetty now
With some guy who looks like Rocco Siffredi
And I've heard he's been dead once already
It's going down right now in Lowertown
They're skipping off the good ship U.S.S.S.S.S.S.S.S.S. Sexuality
Searching for the merchant with the five second delivery
They're slipping soft rock into their setlist now
They got some new guy that looks just like Phil Lynott
We're stumbling but I think we're still in it
It's a big world, girl, and I can't understand it
We're tiny white specks in a bright blue planet
I was a teenage ice machine
I kept it cool in coolers and I drank until I dreamed
And when I dream, I always dream about the scene
All these kids they look like little lambs looking up at me
I was a Twin Cities trash bin
I did everything they'd give me
I'd jam it into my system
She got me cornered by the kitchen
And I said I'll do anything but listen
To some weird-talking chick who just can't understand
That we're hot soft spots on a hard rock planet
Baby, take off your beret
Everyone's a critic and most people are DJs
And everything gets played
Working backwards from the doctor to the drugs
From the packie to the taxi, to the cabbie, to the club
A thousand kids will fall in love in all these clubs tonight
A thousand other kids will end up gushing blood tonight
Two thousand kids won't get all that much sleep tonight
Two thousand kids they still feel pretty sweet tonight
Yeah, and I still feel pretty sweet
Lyrics submitted by stellaluna1125, edited by InspectorMustache
Most People Are DJs Lyrics as written by Tad Jason Kubler Craig Finn
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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this is what craig finn himself (the singer of the hold steady) had to say about this song:
"Most people are. Just a reaction to life in NYC in the 2000s. The part I don't get is when I get emails that start with, "Come see me DJ" and end with, "Here is what Im going to play...." I think that DJing, like rock criticism, tends to be a way for people to participate in the "scene" without taking the risks to the ego that go along with producing music or any other art. "Look at me! I'm playing records!" Of course, I don't apply this to all DJs. And for those who don't know, Rocco Siffredi is a porn star. On a Lifter Puller tour someone showed us a video of him having sex with a woman and then flushing her head in the toilet. I can't figure out who that was supposed to arouse."
i completely agree about the dj thing above so true except for rave dj's with the original shit
this is the second time he has mentioned ybor city...
this is the second time he has mentioned ybor city...
Saying "Everyone's a critic and most people are DJs" implies that many people are hypocritical. If everyone is a critic then everyone is critical, however, if most people are DJs you criticize, listen to and play the song anyway. The main hook of the song is aimed at hypocritical people.
when he says "they're slipping soft rock into the setlist now" he's referring to the album Soft Rock, from his former band Lifter Puller
love thiiiis song such great lyrics
How the song turns being a twin cities trash bin(Kind of like this one: storageboxdirect.co.uk/shop/albero-plastic-black-dust-bin-7-litre-with-lid/) to a beautiful lyrical verse is actually pretty inspiring. I loed that part of the song. 10/10 lyrics.