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.
Jesse James and Frank James
Billy Kid, all the rest
Supposed to be some bad cats
Out in the West
But when they dug me
And my gangster ways
They hung up their guns
And made it to the grave
Cause I'm a gangster of love
Say I'm a gangster of love
Well now
When I walk down the street
All the girls that I meet
Say he's a gangster of love
Yeah
I robbed the local beauty contest
For their first place winner
They found her with me out in Hollywood
Eating a big steak dinner
They tried to get her to go back
To pick up her prize
She stood up and told them
You just don't realize
That he's a gangster of love
Early in the morning, gangster of love
Ooh yeah, now
When I walk in a bar
Girls from, from near and far
Say he's a gangster of love
Oh let me invade a little
I jump on my white horse, Cadillac
I ride across the border line
I rope sixty five girls
I kiss them all the same time
I take twenty five or thirty
I'd put them all on a freight
A million dollar reward for me
Each and every state
The Sheriff says, is you Guitar Watson?
In a very deep voice
I say, yes sir, brother Sheriff, and that's your wife on the back of my horse
Cause I'm a gangster of love
Yeah, I'm a gangster of love
Hey, yeah
When I walk down the street
All the girls that I meet
Say he's a gangster of love
Billy Kid, all the rest
Supposed to be some bad cats
Out in the West
But when they dug me
And my gangster ways
They hung up their guns
And made it to the grave
Cause I'm a gangster of love
Say I'm a gangster of love
Well now
When I walk down the street
All the girls that I meet
Say he's a gangster of love
Yeah
I robbed the local beauty contest
For their first place winner
They found her with me out in Hollywood
Eating a big steak dinner
They tried to get her to go back
To pick up her prize
She stood up and told them
You just don't realize
That he's a gangster of love
Early in the morning, gangster of love
Ooh yeah, now
When I walk in a bar
Girls from, from near and far
Say he's a gangster of love
Oh let me invade a little
I jump on my white horse, Cadillac
I ride across the border line
I rope sixty five girls
I kiss them all the same time
I take twenty five or thirty
I'd put them all on a freight
A million dollar reward for me
Each and every state
The Sheriff says, is you Guitar Watson?
In a very deep voice
I say, yes sir, brother Sheriff, and that's your wife on the back of my horse
Cause I'm a gangster of love
Yeah, I'm a gangster of love
Hey, yeah
When I walk down the street
All the girls that I meet
Say he's a gangster of love
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only one comment( well technically 2 but u no...)
i love this song...johnny guitar watson is the worlds first real playa:)
this was on an axe commercial lol i was so proud of myself for already knowing this song.
i like the part about the sheriffs wife lol
its like BURRRRRRRRN SONNNNN.
lol i love how white i am