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 was born in the wagon of a travelling show
My momma used to dance for the money they'd throw
Poppa would do whatever he could
Preach a little gospel
Sell a couple bottles of doctor good
Gypsies tramps and thieves
We'd hear it from the people of the town
They'd call us
Gypsies tramps and thieves
But every night all the men would come around
And lay their money down
Picked up a boy just south of Mobile
Gave him a ride filled him with a hot meal
I was sixteen he was twenty one
Rode with us to Memphis
And poppa woulda shot him if he knew what he'd done
Gypsies tramps and thieves
We'd hear it from the people of the town
They'd call us
Gypsies tramps and thieves
But every night all the men would come around
And lay their money down
Yip!
Yahoo!
She was born in the wagon of a travelling show
Her momma had to dance for the money they'd throw
Grandpa'd do whatever he could
Preach a little gospel
Sell a couple bottles of doctor good
Gypsies tramps and thieves
We'd hear it from the people of the town
They'd call us
Gypsies tramps and thieves
But every night all the men would come around
And lay their money down
blahblahblahblah....
fuck it
fuck it all
My momma used to dance for the money they'd throw
Poppa would do whatever he could
Preach a little gospel
Sell a couple bottles of doctor good
Gypsies tramps and thieves
We'd hear it from the people of the town
They'd call us
Gypsies tramps and thieves
But every night all the men would come around
And lay their money down
Picked up a boy just south of Mobile
Gave him a ride filled him with a hot meal
I was sixteen he was twenty one
Rode with us to Memphis
And poppa woulda shot him if he knew what he'd done
Gypsies tramps and thieves
We'd hear it from the people of the town
They'd call us
Gypsies tramps and thieves
But every night all the men would come around
And lay their money down
Yip!
Yahoo!
She was born in the wagon of a travelling show
Her momma had to dance for the money they'd throw
Grandpa'd do whatever he could
Preach a little gospel
Sell a couple bottles of doctor good
Gypsies tramps and thieves
We'd hear it from the people of the town
They'd call us
Gypsies tramps and thieves
But every night all the men would come around
And lay their money down
blahblahblahblah....
fuck it
fuck it all
Lyrics submitted by DarkSideOfTheMoon5, edited by Mellow_Harsher
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