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.
You're a white collar boy and you gave into the law
Give in to the pressure the cops gonna getcha
You were a thieving dog at work until they caught your little paw
Your wage won't stretch, to picking up checks
A custodial sentence you narrowly avoided
Community service you had to go along with
You're banging the rocks at the old city docks
Poor boy poor boy poor boy poor boy
You were chained to a girl that would kill you with a look
It's a nice way to die she's so easy on the eye
She said let's get away, but you played it by the book
You're a warden's pet, she's a screaming suffragette
We ain't in prison, we'll just finish up and go home?
She said, ?Not for me, I've got plans for later on?
So she belted the sarge and she jumped on a barge
You fell, you fell you fell you fell
White collar, got dirt in your pants
You got egg in your hair
You got spit in your chin
White collar, scared to be bored
Blue Collar, she's opening doors
White collar boy, on the run from the law
She said ?You ain't ugly, you can kiss me if you like?
Go ahead and kiss her, you don't know what you're missing
You said ?Baby, you're special,
But there's something not quite right.?
She's a Venus in flares and you wanna split hairs!
I am innocent, you are a rocket.
Things were ok till you took out the copper?
Leave me alone, and get used to the chains
You're a pain, a pain, a pain, a pain
White collar, got dirt in your pants
You got egg in your hair
You got spit in your chin
White collar, scared to be bored
Blue Collar, she's opening doors
White collar boy, on the run from the law
Give in to the pressure the cops gonna getcha
You were a thieving dog at work until they caught your little paw
Your wage won't stretch, to picking up checks
A custodial sentence you narrowly avoided
Community service you had to go along with
You're banging the rocks at the old city docks
Poor boy poor boy poor boy poor boy
You were chained to a girl that would kill you with a look
It's a nice way to die she's so easy on the eye
She said let's get away, but you played it by the book
You're a warden's pet, she's a screaming suffragette
We ain't in prison, we'll just finish up and go home?
She said, ?Not for me, I've got plans for later on?
So she belted the sarge and she jumped on a barge
You fell, you fell you fell you fell
White collar, got dirt in your pants
You got egg in your hair
You got spit in your chin
White collar, scared to be bored
Blue Collar, she's opening doors
White collar boy, on the run from the law
She said ?You ain't ugly, you can kiss me if you like?
Go ahead and kiss her, you don't know what you're missing
You said ?Baby, you're special,
But there's something not quite right.?
She's a Venus in flares and you wanna split hairs!
I am innocent, you are a rocket.
Things were ok till you took out the copper?
Leave me alone, and get used to the chains
You're a pain, a pain, a pain, a pain
White collar, got dirt in your pants
You got egg in your hair
You got spit in your chin
White collar, scared to be bored
Blue Collar, she's opening doors
White collar boy, on the run from the law
Lyrics submitted by madedge, edited by Mellow_Harsher, emilierein
White Collar Boy Lyrics as written by Christopher Geddes Bob Kildea
Lyrics © Hipgnosis Songs Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
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From belleandsebastian.com/qa_ask.php :
From: Lizzy Q.So, last night I was listening to Velvet Underground and Nico, and this just randomly occured to me. Is the line "She's a Venus in flares" in White Collar Boy a reference to the song or book Venus in Furs? Seems like the kind of thing you might slip in, but it could just be a coincidence.
A. The line always reminded me of an old 60's song, 'Venus in Blue Jeans' , I don't actually know.
Stevie - 12/06/07