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.
Cross your fingers say you’re on high
Pretend you’re in den and see what life brings
But always taking things as they come
Tends to make you forget to put anything in
The longer you dwell
The more it’s like hell
You sit by the well
Just making a wish
It would be a shame
To take too much blame
Look we’re all the same
It’s only a game
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Did I just catch you laughing
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Forward where the knocks are hardest
Some to failure some to fame
Never mind the cheers or hooting
Keep your head and play the game
Try to keep your feet on the ground
Without getting them stuck in the mud
You will soon be over the moon
Or twice as hot as the sun
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Did I just catch you laughing
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
So cross your fingers say you’re on high
Pretend your in den and see what life brings
But all this taking things as they come
Tends to make you forget to put anything in
The longer you dwell
The more it’s like hell
You sit by the well
Just making a wish
To make it plain
I’ll say it again
We’re all the same
It’s only a game
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Did I just catch you laughing
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Someone just smiled for no special reason
It looks like the smile’s come back into season
It’s so easy
It doesn’t have to be a nice day
Just the only one you’ve got and it’s coming ready or not
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Pretend you’re in den and see what life brings
But always taking things as they come
Tends to make you forget to put anything in
The longer you dwell
The more it’s like hell
You sit by the well
Just making a wish
It would be a shame
To take too much blame
Look we’re all the same
It’s only a game
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Did I just catch you laughing
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Forward where the knocks are hardest
Some to failure some to fame
Never mind the cheers or hooting
Keep your head and play the game
Try to keep your feet on the ground
Without getting them stuck in the mud
You will soon be over the moon
Or twice as hot as the sun
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Did I just catch you laughing
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
So cross your fingers say you’re on high
Pretend your in den and see what life brings
But all this taking things as they come
Tends to make you forget to put anything in
The longer you dwell
The more it’s like hell
You sit by the well
Just making a wish
To make it plain
I’ll say it again
We’re all the same
It’s only a game
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Did I just catch you laughing
Ackee 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Someone just smiled for no special reason
It looks like the smile’s come back into season
It’s so easy
It doesn’t have to be a nice day
Just the only one you’ve got and it’s coming ready or not
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Ackee 1 2 1 2 3
Lyrics submitted by planetearth
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"Ackee 123" is part of the game of tiggy, or tag, as played in Birmingham - as is the "den". Having only lived in Brum as an adult, I'm not sure which person shouts it.
My guess is that it's the catcher who shouts "Ackee 123" when he finds a runner, and then the runner has got to get back to the den - which would make sense as a metaphor, since the song is about hiding from some sort of uncomfortable truth.