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.
It keeps on getting harder
To keep on keepin' on
With everybody screaming an order in my ear
I want to be my own man; I'd love to walk alone,
But every time I leave my home, this is what I hear
Keep your nose clean, your head above water.
Keep your feet on the ground, keep your hands off my daughter.
Keep your back to the wind, keep your thoughts to yourself.
An eye on the clock, keep an eye on your health.
I wish they'd let me just keep to myself
I do fine on my own.
I keep up with the times; I keep up with the Jones.
I keep up with the rest of your class.
So I keep an open mind and this close-minded world
Keeps on telling me to keep this grass
Keep your nose clean, keep your head above water.
Keep your feet on the ground, your hands off my daughter.
Keep your back to the wind, your thoughts to yourself.
Keep an eye on the clock, an eye on your health.
I wish they'd let me just keep to myself
I do fine on my own.
Keep your nose clean, keep your head above water.
Keep your feet on the ground, your hands off my daughter.
Keep your back to the wind, your thoughts to yourself.
Keep an eye on the clock, an eye on your health.
I wish they'd let me just keep to myself
I do fine on my own.
So I keep an open mind; it's a close-minded world,
Always telling me to keep off the grass.
To keep on keepin' on
With everybody screaming an order in my ear
I want to be my own man; I'd love to walk alone,
But every time I leave my home, this is what I hear
Keep your nose clean, your head above water.
Keep your feet on the ground, keep your hands off my daughter.
Keep your back to the wind, keep your thoughts to yourself.
An eye on the clock, keep an eye on your health.
I wish they'd let me just keep to myself
I do fine on my own.
I keep up with the times; I keep up with the Jones.
I keep up with the rest of your class.
So I keep an open mind and this close-minded world
Keeps on telling me to keep this grass
Keep your nose clean, keep your head above water.
Keep your feet on the ground, your hands off my daughter.
Keep your back to the wind, your thoughts to yourself.
Keep an eye on the clock, an eye on your health.
I wish they'd let me just keep to myself
I do fine on my own.
Keep your nose clean, keep your head above water.
Keep your feet on the ground, your hands off my daughter.
Keep your back to the wind, your thoughts to yourself.
Keep an eye on the clock, an eye on your health.
I wish they'd let me just keep to myself
I do fine on my own.
So I keep an open mind; it's a close-minded world,
Always telling me to keep off the grass.
Lyrics submitted by UnpopularPoet
Keep off the Grass Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © HIPGNOSIS SONGS GROUP
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Corrections: its not "an order" its just "orders" "They say to keep up with the times, keep up with the jones, keep up with the rest of your class, So I keep an open mind in this closed minded world that keeps on tellin' me to keep of this grass" You left out "They say," in the first line; there is no I in the 2nd verse and you left out off in the phrase keep off the grass in the 2nd verse. I can't decipher if it's "I'd do fine on my own" or "I do" doesn't change the meaning much either way although the tone of the song suggests people are ordering him around so he would be saying he would do fine without them. Anyway. Great song, excellent use of the double entendre "grass" since Todd is a self-avowed pot smoker. Great hippe themes about autonomy and social constrcutions and raises questions about how "free" we really are in America. Todd can pack a lot into 2:13 seconds. Can't believe I'm the first one posting on this song.
I went back and tried to do the best that I could. It doesn't help that on the "Happy to Be Here" version Todd doesn't sing the chorus the same way each time. I like your point with the marijuana entendre, which I'm sure he would agree with, although I'm not sure he intentionally built into the song.