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.
Hey sister, have you heard?
Some people stand like trees, without a word
And what that means is that some people don't talk.
Oh please pardon me mister.
Ya know I just didn't hear you the first time that you said that,
But now that you repeat for me, I'll be sure to do what I can.
Ya know I'm going to do what I can,
Do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
Gonna do what I can,
Do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can,
But no more, you understand?
Oh please pardon me father.
Ya know I just didn't hear you that, that, that
That first time that you said th...
Help me, help me, help me, help me...
Repeat it, repeat it, repeat it.
I'll be sure do, do, do what I can.
Do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
Gotta do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can,
But no more, you understand?
It's of utmost importance, we're dealing with volitiale substance. (4 times)
I had so much on my mind.
I was so glad when I died, oh...
Listen to me baby.
Can you keep a secret for me?
Make sure no one finds out,
Cause then the lights will go out,
And I will find you out,
And I will cut you up.
Uh hmm, don't ask me why,
Because, I said, I said, I said
I'm gonna do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
Gotta do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can. (3 times)
But I'll have none of that, you understand?
Don't you know nothin'? You never tell on someone. (3 times)
Don't you know nothin'? You ain't never going to tell on someone.
What you going to do?
Gonna turn, gonna turn rat fink?
What you want to do?
Do want to see, do you want to see what it's like to sink?
Sink down, sink down, sink down, down, down to the bottom of the river.
Sink down, sink, sink down down.
Down, down, to the bottom of the river, sink, down sink.
Sink down, down. Down, down to bottom of the river.
Sink down, sink, sink down down.
Down, down to the bottom of the river.
Don't you know no one? You never tell on someone. (3 times)
Don't you know no one? You ain't never gonna tell on someone. (3 times)
Ah, ah, oh, I tell you what it's like, I tell you what it's like, oh.
I stood right up in the heart of Hell, I never tell. (3 times)
I stood right up in the heart of Hell,
I'm never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
I'm never, never, never, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
Nothing, nothing, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
I'm never, never, never, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
Nothing, nothing, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
Ah...
Some people stand like trees, without a word
And what that means is that some people don't talk.
Oh please pardon me mister.
Ya know I just didn't hear you the first time that you said that,
But now that you repeat for me, I'll be sure to do what I can.
Ya know I'm going to do what I can,
Do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
Gonna do what I can,
Do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can,
But no more, you understand?
Oh please pardon me father.
Ya know I just didn't hear you that, that, that
That first time that you said th...
Help me, help me, help me, help me...
Repeat it, repeat it, repeat it.
I'll be sure do, do, do what I can.
Do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
Gotta do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can,
But no more, you understand?
It's of utmost importance, we're dealing with volitiale substance. (4 times)
I had so much on my mind.
I was so glad when I died, oh...
Listen to me baby.
Can you keep a secret for me?
Make sure no one finds out,
Cause then the lights will go out,
And I will find you out,
And I will cut you up.
Uh hmm, don't ask me why,
Because, I said, I said, I said
I'm gonna do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can.
Gotta do what I can, do what I can, do, do, do, do what I can. (3 times)
But I'll have none of that, you understand?
Don't you know nothin'? You never tell on someone. (3 times)
Don't you know nothin'? You ain't never going to tell on someone.
What you going to do?
Gonna turn, gonna turn rat fink?
What you want to do?
Do want to see, do you want to see what it's like to sink?
Sink down, sink down, sink down, down, down to the bottom of the river.
Sink down, sink, sink down down.
Down, down, to the bottom of the river, sink, down sink.
Sink down, down. Down, down to bottom of the river.
Sink down, sink, sink down down.
Down, down to the bottom of the river.
Don't you know no one? You never tell on someone. (3 times)
Don't you know no one? You ain't never gonna tell on someone. (3 times)
Ah, ah, oh, I tell you what it's like, I tell you what it's like, oh.
I stood right up in the heart of Hell, I never tell. (3 times)
I stood right up in the heart of Hell,
I'm never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
I'm never, never, never, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
Nothing, nothing, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
I'm never, never, never, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
Nothing, nothing, never gonna tell, tell, tell, tell.
Ah...
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