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.
Well I lost an eye in Mexico
I lost two teeth, where I don't know
People see me coming and they move to the other side of the road
I robbed a liquor store or two
I made myself at home a few times
Borrow myself a car when I need it
I got me a shack at the bottom of the road
Fixing cars and giving tows
I spend all my money
On the lottery
When I win the lottery
Gonna buy all the girls on my block
Color TV and a bottle of French perfume
When I win the lottery
Gonna donate half my money to the city
So they have to name a street or a school or a park after me
When I win the lottery
Never ran a flag
Up a pole
Like Mr. Red White and Blue down the road
But I never call myself a hero for killing a known communist
Now I could walk into any old bar
And find a fight without looking too hard
But I never killed someone I don't know
Just cause someone told me to.
And when I win the lottery
Gonna buy the house next to Mr.
Red, White and Blue
And when I win the lottery
Gonna buy post 306
American legion, paint it red with five gold stars
When I win the lottery
When the end comes to this old world
The righteous will cry and the rest will curl up
God won't take the time
To sort your ashes from mine
Cause we zig and zag between good and bad
Stumble and fall on right and wrong
Cause the tumbling dice with the luck of the draw
Just leads us on
And when I win the lottery
Gonna buy all the girls on my block
Silver plated
Six shooters with a quart of the finest highland scotch
Cause when I win the lottery
The righteous will shake their heads and say
That God is good, but surely works in mysterious ways
When I win the lottery.
I lost two teeth, where I don't know
People see me coming and they move to the other side of the road
I robbed a liquor store or two
I made myself at home a few times
Borrow myself a car when I need it
I got me a shack at the bottom of the road
Fixing cars and giving tows
I spend all my money
On the lottery
When I win the lottery
Gonna buy all the girls on my block
Color TV and a bottle of French perfume
When I win the lottery
Gonna donate half my money to the city
So they have to name a street or a school or a park after me
When I win the lottery
Never ran a flag
Up a pole
Like Mr. Red White and Blue down the road
But I never call myself a hero for killing a known communist
Now I could walk into any old bar
And find a fight without looking too hard
But I never killed someone I don't know
Just cause someone told me to.
And when I win the lottery
Gonna buy the house next to Mr.
Red, White and Blue
And when I win the lottery
Gonna buy post 306
American legion, paint it red with five gold stars
When I win the lottery
When the end comes to this old world
The righteous will cry and the rest will curl up
God won't take the time
To sort your ashes from mine
Cause we zig and zag between good and bad
Stumble and fall on right and wrong
Cause the tumbling dice with the luck of the draw
Just leads us on
And when I win the lottery
Gonna buy all the girls on my block
Silver plated
Six shooters with a quart of the finest highland scotch
Cause when I win the lottery
The righteous will shake their heads and say
That God is good, but surely works in mysterious ways
When I win the lottery.
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
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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"Mexico" is a reference to the country south of the United States of America.
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