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.
One day one woman asked him
What do you to survive?
He said 'oh my dear listen here
And this is what he cried
On my feet I wear two shoes for dancing
Dancing to be free
On my feet they're paying tribute to
The Bobby Marley legacy
On my knees they've got some cuts and bruises
From skating all my days
Cause when I'm skating with my friends
My troubles drift away
I say my legs they're wearing baggy pants
I like to move around
Cause getting down and jumping up
These are some good things that I found
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak the empire be rising
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak we making some lovin
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak the greedy men running
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak got two shoes for dancin'
On my waist it's got a slinky belt
With a clip that's quick to open
Because loving is the sweetest thing
And from my waist it happens
And my stomach got some tasty food
That's making me feel good
Cause sharing some meals is something
I wish the world could do
Where my chest it wears a singlet
Where my chest it beating proud
Oh my chest suggest I am a man
That no institution can knock down
And around my neck is superstition
Hanging from a chain
Because I've got my gods but in the end
I make my own way
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak the empire be rising
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak we making some lovin
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak the greedy men running
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak got two shoes for dancin'
And my mouth it's got a great big smile
That shows some great big teeth
To friends it brings a happiness
And to enemies it brings defeat
And my eyes they've got some vision
That can see through many lies
Or my eyes they look for better things
The better things to see in life
Where my ears are wearing head phones
That do play my favorite songs
Not music I'm told to like
But the songs that make me dance along
Cause on my feet are shoes for dancing
Dancing to be free
On my feet they're paying tribute to
The Bobby Marley legacy
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak the empire be rising
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak we making some lovin'
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak the greedy men running
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak got two shoes for dancin'
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak the empire be rising
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak we making some lovin'
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak the greedy men running
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak got two shoes for dancin'
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
What do you to survive?
He said 'oh my dear listen here
And this is what he cried
On my feet I wear two shoes for dancing
Dancing to be free
On my feet they're paying tribute to
The Bobby Marley legacy
On my knees they've got some cuts and bruises
From skating all my days
Cause when I'm skating with my friends
My troubles drift away
I say my legs they're wearing baggy pants
I like to move around
Cause getting down and jumping up
These are some good things that I found
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak the empire be rising
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak we making some lovin
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak the greedy men running
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak got two shoes for dancin'
On my waist it's got a slinky belt
With a clip that's quick to open
Because loving is the sweetest thing
And from my waist it happens
And my stomach got some tasty food
That's making me feel good
Cause sharing some meals is something
I wish the world could do
Where my chest it wears a singlet
Where my chest it beating proud
Oh my chest suggest I am a man
That no institution can knock down
And around my neck is superstition
Hanging from a chain
Because I've got my gods but in the end
I make my own way
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak the empire be rising
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak we making some lovin
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak the greedy men running
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak got two shoes for dancin'
And my mouth it's got a great big smile
That shows some great big teeth
To friends it brings a happiness
And to enemies it brings defeat
And my eyes they've got some vision
That can see through many lies
Or my eyes they look for better things
The better things to see in life
Where my ears are wearing head phones
That do play my favorite songs
Not music I'm told to like
But the songs that make me dance along
Cause on my feet are shoes for dancing
Dancing to be free
On my feet they're paying tribute to
The Bobby Marley legacy
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak the empire be rising
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak we making some lovin'
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak the greedy men running
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak got two shoes for dancin'
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak the empire be rising
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak we making some lovin'
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak the greedy men running
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Boom shak got two shoes for dancin'
Aeehhhiiiaaaaa
Lyrics submitted by LoveThyEnemy
Two Shoes Lyrics as written by Felix Riebl
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Spirit Music Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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i love this song. It makes me so happy. how life should be, simple and fun.
this song is so soothing. it makes me think of balmy nights in bali with my friends. mmm i love the reggae beat!
its AWSOME
I completely dig this song but, who are the 'Greedy men running'?
my feet they’re paying tribute to the Bobby Marley legacy
para qué mas?!!!
amazing!! it's so funky and everytime I listen it puts a smile in my face
Felix has massive thing for dancing!!again i recon its the empire just prioritising everything in life and not being led (not music im told to like')- ultimatly they have two shoes for dancing!!dancing to be free!an re to the greedy men running- i think they are just pokng fun at all the money grabbers in the world.
Thanks Maxjagger, good thinking
Such a cool song, Felix rules so much I named my son after him! I'm always amazed by the seemingly throwaway lines that always seem to come back to me when I'm thinking about something else, like
'around my neck is superstition hanging from a chain, 'cos I've got my gods but in the end I make my own way'
which is a pretty damning view of religion, and quite similar to my own, all in two simple lines. And I love the lines about his belt 'with a clip that's quick to open'.
So bloody clever and talented these Australians, eh?
the boy i'm in love with introduced me to this song... maybe that's why i'm in love with it? nahhhh. this song is fucking amazing. makes me wanna dance oh yeah.
FishiesWillLaugh, I don't think that that is a 'damning view' of religion at all, it's just Felix's personal take, but he seems to agree that everyone can do what they choose, 'make their own way'.
In this song it feels like Felix is taking an inventory of all his traits, all the little things that make him who he is.
I love it!
I agree that he's not entirely damning religion. He's definitely saying it doesn't define him and he is his own master. I like that. FishiesWillLaugh, I believe you and I have very similar religious views. And I definitely considered naming my kid Felix... <br /> <br /> <br /> ladygreg and all, Here Here to the little things!