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.
We left for Frisco in your Rambler
The radiator running dry
I've never been much of a gambler
And had a preference to fly
You said "forget about the airline,
Let's take the car and save the fare."
We blew a gasket on the Grapevine
And eighty dollars on repairs
All aboard (Sausalito summernight)
All aboard (Sausalito summernight)
All aboard (Sausalito summernight)
All aboard
Hot summer night in Sausalito
Can't stand the heat another mile
Let's drop a quarter in the meter
And hit the sidewalk for a while
I'll have a burger and a root beer
You feed the heap some of the grape
A shot of premium to boot, dear
We'll get across the Golden Gate
All aboard (Sausalito summernight)
All aboard (Sausalito summernight)
All aboard (Sausalito summernight)
All aboard
Cashin' all my checks
Straightenin' out my bank?
Spend it on a Rambler
With a wormhole in the tank
Look out over here
Watch out over there
Can't afford a blowout
'Cause we haven't got a spare
All aboard (Sausalito summernight)
All aboard (Sausalito summernight)
All aboard (Sausalito summernight)
All aboard
The radiator running dry
I've never been much of a gambler
And had a preference to fly
You said "forget about the airline,
Let's take the car and save the fare."
We blew a gasket on the Grapevine
And eighty dollars on repairs
All aboard (Sausalito summernight)
All aboard (Sausalito summernight)
All aboard (Sausalito summernight)
All aboard
Hot summer night in Sausalito
Can't stand the heat another mile
Let's drop a quarter in the meter
And hit the sidewalk for a while
I'll have a burger and a root beer
You feed the heap some of the grape
A shot of premium to boot, dear
We'll get across the Golden Gate
All aboard (Sausalito summernight)
All aboard (Sausalito summernight)
All aboard (Sausalito summernight)
All aboard
Cashin' all my checks
Straightenin' out my bank?
Spend it on a Rambler
With a wormhole in the tank
Look out over here
Watch out over there
Can't afford a blowout
'Cause we haven't got a spare
All aboard (Sausalito summernight)
All aboard (Sausalito summernight)
All aboard (Sausalito summernight)
All aboard
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Gettin' Out of High Scool without a worry in the world!
We left for Frisco in your Rambler The radiator running dry I've never been much of a gambler and had a preference to fly
You said "forget about the airline, let's take the car and save the fare." We blew a gasket on the Grapevine and eighty dollars on repairs
All aboard (Sausalito summernight) All aboard (Sausalito summernight) All aboard (Sausalito summernight) All aboard
Hot summer night in Sausalito Can't stand the heat another mile Let's drop a quarter in the meter and hit the sidewalk for a while
I'll have a burger and a root beer You feed the heap some of the grape A shot of premium to boot, dear We'll get across the Golden Gate
All aboard (Sausalito summernight) All aboard (Sausalito summernight) All aboard (Sausalito summernight) All aboard
Another mile or two to Frisco, 200 gallons from L.A. The engine's thumping like a disco, We ought to dump her in the Bay...
All aboard (Sausalito summernight) All aboard
Cashin' all my checks Straightenin' out my bank? Spend it on a Rambler with a wormhole in the tank
Look out over here Watch out over there Can't afford a blowout 'cause we haven't got a spare
All aboard (Sausalito summernight) All aboard (Sausalito summernight) All aboard (Sausalito summernight) All aboard