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.
I can kill standing still
It's easy
I can scare with a stare
It's easy
Hey Ringo
It's sad though
Because it's hard to walk tall
When you're small
Whether dressed in
Disciplined style
Never mind
When you're small
You walk as if you're falling
I attack from the back
Because it's easy
And I can assail
While wearing very nice jewelry
Oh hey Ringo
It's sad though
Because it's hard to walk tall
When you're small
Whether dressed in
Disciplined style
Never mind
When you're small
You spend your life crawling
I burst into
Public baths
And I throw my weight around
And no one can even see me
No one can even see me
Nobody can see me
No one can see me
Success is just a mess
Hey Ringo
It's sad though
Because it's hard to walk tall
When you're small
Whether dressed in
Disciplined style
Never mind
When you're small
You're bound to look ???
So compadre
Please do this for me
Compadre please read for me
Compadre
Compadre
Please read for me
It's easy
I can scare with a stare
It's easy
Hey Ringo
It's sad though
Because it's hard to walk tall
When you're small
Whether dressed in
Disciplined style
Never mind
When you're small
You walk as if you're falling
I attack from the back
Because it's easy
And I can assail
While wearing very nice jewelry
Oh hey Ringo
It's sad though
Because it's hard to walk tall
When you're small
Whether dressed in
Disciplined style
Never mind
When you're small
You spend your life crawling
I burst into
Public baths
And I throw my weight around
And no one can even see me
No one can even see me
Nobody can see me
No one can see me
Success is just a mess
Hey Ringo
It's sad though
Because it's hard to walk tall
When you're small
Whether dressed in
Disciplined style
Never mind
When you're small
You're bound to look ???
So compadre
Please do this for me
Compadre please read for me
Compadre
Compadre
Please read for me
Lyrics submitted by Mopnugget, edited by chamacuti, Pascal5207
It's Hard To Walk Tall When You're Small Lyrics as written by Alain Gordon Whyte Steven Morrissey
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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I've always liked this song. Yes, it's another Morrissey song in the vein of self-depreciation. He peppers the lyrics with interesting hints, though, that leave much to the imagination..."I burst into public baths" -- my friend and I joke that he's referring to the Hollywood Spa -- which is right down the street from where he lived; I could just see Morrissey going in through the back in disguise and setting up shop in a private room ("with a view") ..."and no one can even see me" I'm sure this interp. is a stretch but can someone please draw these lyrics together into a cohesive analysis -- I'd be very interested to solve this song