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.
Oh lord (oh lord)...
Oh boy I thought I told you
Well I told you but I thought you know
There ain't no heaven
Oh lord, there ain't no heaven
There ain't no heaven
On the county road
Don't talk about it
Boy oh boy, don't talk about it
Don't talk about it
If you do, I'll cry
Don't come around me
Oh lord, don't come around me
Don't come around me
If you do, I'll die
Oh lord, there ain't no heaven
Oh lord, there ain't no heaven
Down at the station stood my dear old mother
She keep on, keep on screamin' and cryin'
"Oh lord I wonder what my son has done"
Oh lord, there ain't no heaven
Oh lord, there ain't no heaven
Oh lord
Did you bring me, bring me any silver
He didn't bring me, bring me any gold
Oh did you see me, workin' on South Carolina
Just to see me work on the county road
Oh lord (oh lord), there ain't no heaven
Oh lord (oh lord), there ain't no heaven
(Oh lord, oh lord)
There ain't no heaven (there ain't no heaven)
(Oh lord, there ain't no heaven)
Oh lord (oh lord), there ain't no heaven.
Oh boy I thought I told you
Well I told you but I thought you know
There ain't no heaven
Oh lord, there ain't no heaven
There ain't no heaven
On the county road
Don't talk about it
Boy oh boy, don't talk about it
Don't talk about it
If you do, I'll cry
Don't come around me
Oh lord, don't come around me
Don't come around me
If you do, I'll die
Oh lord, there ain't no heaven
Oh lord, there ain't no heaven
Down at the station stood my dear old mother
She keep on, keep on screamin' and cryin'
"Oh lord I wonder what my son has done"
Oh lord, there ain't no heaven
Oh lord, there ain't no heaven
Oh lord
Did you bring me, bring me any silver
He didn't bring me, bring me any gold
Oh did you see me, workin' on South Carolina
Just to see me work on the county road
Oh lord (oh lord), there ain't no heaven
Oh lord (oh lord), there ain't no heaven
(Oh lord, oh lord)
There ain't no heaven (there ain't no heaven)
(Oh lord, there ain't no heaven)
Oh lord (oh lord), there ain't no heaven.
Lyrics submitted by xx_sunshine
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
this song is so catchy.
I like this song alot , and I think I got the meaning of this song ... <br /> <br /> "There ain't no heaven<br /> On the county road"<br /> <br /> it tallks about how the life of being a musician on the road , are "no heaven" <br /> <br /> "Did you bring me, bring me any silver<br /> He didn't bring me, bring me any gold "<br /> <br /> and it's not like you suddently get rich .
I think your interpretation isn't quite right. :)
It seems obvious this song refers to someone working on the chain gang on a county road. "There ain't no heaven" refers to the hell the singer is going through. The part about the "dear old mother" is a standard staple of prison blues.
The "don't talk about it" and "don't come around me" parts presumably refer to the singer not wanting to think about what he'd done. And of course someone working on the chain gang is not going to be brought any silver or gold.
Though most of your obvious catches in meaning of the song, and I agree with most of it but your las bit about someone on the chain gang not being brought silver or gold (though that may be true) I have a feeling that he might be refering to a song By Led Zeppelin Gallows Pole [quote]Hangman, hangman, hold it a little while, <br /> I Think I see my friends coming, Riding a many mile. <br /> Friends, you get some silver? <br /> Did you get a little gold? <br /> What did you bring me, my dear friends? Keep me from the Gallows Pole. <br /> What did you bring me to keep me from the Gallows Pole? [/quote]<br /> <br /> Looking at these lyrics compared to what the theme is in No Heaven could it be that he will die or is on death row and the artist might be stating that he cannot escape his final destination? I could be very very wrong but it is not rare to see artists use such links in their songs.. well at least more modern artists...
It should be noted this song is confusingly attributed to 'Champion' - the American rock band and not 'DJ Champion and his G-Strings' - the Canadian DJ and his band (DJ Champion is the correct listing on Songmeanings.net).
RobotechMaster and HypnoKit are kind of stupid for thinking that the singer is a guy. Morons.
@Joter In fairness, the original singer, Betty Bonifassi, has a pretty low & gritty, contralto voice, and she only sang with the band briefly. It was later sung on tour by a male singer (Pilou Côté) who has a very similar timbre.