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.
He take the thunder from the mountain, he take the lightning from the sky,
He bring the strong man to his begging knee, he make the young girl's mama cry.
You got to hidey-hide, you got to jump and run;
You got to hidey-hidey-hide, the Old Man is down the road.
He got the voices speak in riddles, he got the eye as black as coal,
He got a suitcase covered with rattlesnake hide, and he stands right in the road.
You got to hidey-hide, you got to jump up run away;
You got to hidey-hidey-hide, the Old Man is down the road.
Ah!
He make the river call your lover, he make the barking of the hound,
Put a shade across the window, when the Old Man comes around.
You got to hidey-hide, you got to jump and run again;
You got to hidey-hidey-hide, the Old Man is down the road.
The Old Man is down the road.
Ah!
You got ta, you got ta, you got ta, hidey-hidey-hide!
He bring the strong man to his begging knee, he make the young girl's mama cry.
You got to hidey-hide, you got to jump and run;
You got to hidey-hidey-hide, the Old Man is down the road.
He got the voices speak in riddles, he got the eye as black as coal,
He got a suitcase covered with rattlesnake hide, and he stands right in the road.
You got to hidey-hide, you got to jump up run away;
You got to hidey-hidey-hide, the Old Man is down the road.
Ah!
He make the river call your lover, he make the barking of the hound,
Put a shade across the window, when the Old Man comes around.
You got to hidey-hide, you got to jump and run again;
You got to hidey-hidey-hide, the Old Man is down the road.
The Old Man is down the road.
Ah!
You got ta, you got ta, you got ta, hidey-hidey-hide!
Lyrics submitted by OpinionHead, edited by PhilJSmith67
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@[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.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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Ed Sheeran
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An aside: Fogerty was sued by his former record company for plagiarism in writing this song. What song did it allegedly rip-off???? wait for it ............ "Run Through The Jungle" another song written by the same man, John Fogerty ! Thankfully the legal action was unsuccessful.
Someone told me that John Fogerty lived near Ronald Reagan's ranch at the time. He is the old man refered to in this song.
@yrogerg1 <snort> Somehow I doubt that Ronald Reagan was ever held in that kind of superstitious dread.
@yrogerg1 <br /> <br /> Burp.
I always thought the old man was a conjurer or voodoo priest, controlling everything with his spells. (Snakeskin is a big thing in conjuring, therefore his rattlesnake suitcase.) The song has a spooky feel that backs it up. I can just picture some strange old dude in the back bayou giving everybody the shivers--is he a witch? That stuff's just fakery...right?
I don't know what the song means. The only thing I can infer is that the old man is a metaphor for something frightening. Maybe God on judgment day? Hmm... I don't hear this song much anymore, but it's a very good song and I wish I knew what it was about.
Yeah the "old man" has a sinister connotation.
He's talking about death I think. Growing old then dying type of metaphor with The Old Man is Down the Road lyric like Your on your way, be scared
That makes sense TheShill, thanks for that comment. Well, this song came out in 1985 I think but the old man sure has not slowed down Fogerty's rocking. He has some good recent live performances, and he's still touring now.
that's pretty interesting yrogerg1, man but i love the feel of this song though
realy great comments i just thought it could be something from childhood like the old bastard who never gave the ball back or who would squirt you with the hose if u came to close to the house and was the only one who you thought made your dad seem like an ant you know but those other comments are pretty convincing
sounds like an old fire and brimstone preaching about the wrath of god, that or it could be as some said earlier, about you getting older, as he takes a strong man to his knees, that or death not just aging.
I think this song is about, a sexy older guy like 25 that lives in a small town that all the fifteen to seventeen yearold girls are after take the like "make the young girls mama cry"