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.
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Midnight candy four cups of coffee
I ate my breakfast with a side of eggs
I saw something in the jungle
Low in gear black mud on my legs
She was something stretch before me
Her arms into wings into pillbox heads
Can the side show wherever you go
Two naked figures in my breath
Can you see it?
If you feel it
The scorpion sleeps right in my hand
A poison dealer
An evil wheeler
How can I make you understand?
Can you see it?
If you feel it
The scorpion sleeps right in my hand
A poison dealer
An evil wheeler
How can I make you understand?
Yeah alright
Said it's alright
Yeah alright
Alright
Said it's alright
Yeah alright
A blue light shindig well I'm addicted
Killing black kettle is what they saw
I feel like something in the congo
Dead were the women not the warriors
Last great road show a canvas tilt go
Arms into wings into pillbox heads
Creep the high-go and keep the down low
Into the mind of a melting man
Can you see it?
If you feel it
The scorpion sleeps right in my hand
A poison dealer
An evil wheeler
How can I make you understand?
Can you see it?
If you feel it
The scorpion sleeps right in my hand
A poison dealer
An evil wheeler
How can I make you understand?
Yeah alright
Said it's alright
Yeah alright
Alright
Said it's alright
Yeah alright
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Can you see it?
If you feel it
The scorpion sleeps right in my hand
A poison dealer
An evil wheeler
How can I make you understand?
Yeah alright
Said it's alright
Yeah alright
Alright
Said it's alright
Yeah alright
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Midnight candy four cups of coffee
I ate my breakfast with a side of eggs
I saw something in the jungle
Low in gear black mud on my legs
She was something stretch before me
Her arms into wings into pillbox heads
Can the side show wherever you go
Two naked figures in my breath
Can you see it?
If you feel it
The scorpion sleeps right in my hand
A poison dealer
An evil wheeler
How can I make you understand?
Can you see it?
If you feel it
The scorpion sleeps right in my hand
A poison dealer
An evil wheeler
How can I make you understand?
Yeah alright
Said it's alright
Yeah alright
Alright
Said it's alright
Yeah alright
A blue light shindig well I'm addicted
Killing black kettle is what they saw
I feel like something in the congo
Dead were the women not the warriors
Last great road show a canvas tilt go
Arms into wings into pillbox heads
Creep the high-go and keep the down low
Into the mind of a melting man
Can you see it?
If you feel it
The scorpion sleeps right in my hand
A poison dealer
An evil wheeler
How can I make you understand?
Can you see it?
If you feel it
The scorpion sleeps right in my hand
A poison dealer
An evil wheeler
How can I make you understand?
Yeah alright
Said it's alright
Yeah alright
Alright
Said it's alright
Yeah alright
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Yeah
Can you see it?
If you feel it
The scorpion sleeps right in my hand
A poison dealer
An evil wheeler
How can I make you understand?
Yeah alright
Said it's alright
Yeah alright
Alright
Said it's alright
Yeah alright
Lyrics submitted by deviationer
The Scorpion Sleeps Lyrics as written by Rob Zombie John Lowery
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Midnight candy four cups of coffee, I ate my breakfast with a side of eggs, I saw something in the jungle, Low in gear - black mudd on my legs
Here he's obviousely talking about the nightlife. Nocturnal habits and a particularly primal nature.
She was something stretch before me, Her arms into wings into pillbox heads, Can the side show - wherever you go, Two naked figures in my breath
Continuing the primal lifestyle, this verse is about random sexual encounters. Likely while under the influence of an intoxicant of some sort. He might even be cheating on a significant other.
A blue light shindig - Well I'm addicted, Killing black kettle is what they saw, I feel like something in the congo, Dead were the women not the warriors
This is probably something about a bar, although I can't help but imagine him wandering a Wal*Mart at 1:00AM in a drugged stupor. "Killing black kettle" could be how people see him and how he views others (calling the kettle black). The second part of this verse reinforces the primal instinct theme.
Last great road show - A canvas tilt go, Arms into wings into pillbox heads, Creep the high-go and keep the down low, Into the mind of a melting man
He's feeling the consequences of a drug-riddled lifestyle and probably has LSD flashbacks. Sounds like he's going for that one last big party. It also slightly aludes to Zombie's childhood and influence for the album.
Can you see it? If you feel it, The Scorpion Sleeps right in my hand, A poison dealer, An evil wheeler, How can I make you understand? Yeah alright - Said it's alright - Yeah alright
This is most likely a reference to intravenous drugs, though the first time I heard it I imagined the stereotypical Scorpio personality; passionate, irrational, and intense. Probably trying to convince some random encounter against her will.