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.
I believe all that I read now
Night has come off the corners
Shadows flicker sweet and tame
Dancing like crazy mourners
The man with the hotdog sells lemonade
Someone over there needs first aid
While me and the rest of the world
Await the touch of the motorcade
No one finds time to turn a blind eye
You can't be too careful nowadays
And my friend says "Listen
To the stupid things they're making you say"
Here comes the motorcade
Moving so slow and hard
Like a snake in a closet
Holding the sway in the boulevard
Here is your man
All faces turn unanimously
The small fry who sizzle in his veins
In all security
Here is your man
All faces turn unanimously
The small fry who sizzle in his veins
In all security
In the back of his car
Into the null and void he shoots
The man at the centre of the motorcade
Has learnt to tie his boots
In the back of his car
In the null and void he sees
The man at the centre of the motorcade
Can choose between coffee and tea
In the boulevard, the motorcade holds sway
In the boulevard, the motorcade holds sway
In the boulevard, the motorcade holds sway
In the boulevard, the motorcade holds sway
Night has come off the corners
Shadows flicker sweet and tame
Dancing like crazy mourners
The man with the hotdog sells lemonade
Someone over there needs first aid
While me and the rest of the world
Await the touch of the motorcade
No one finds time to turn a blind eye
You can't be too careful nowadays
And my friend says "Listen
To the stupid things they're making you say"
Here comes the motorcade
Moving so slow and hard
Like a snake in a closet
Holding the sway in the boulevard
Here is your man
All faces turn unanimously
The small fry who sizzle in his veins
In all security
Here is your man
All faces turn unanimously
The small fry who sizzle in his veins
In all security
In the back of his car
Into the null and void he shoots
The man at the centre of the motorcade
Has learnt to tie his boots
In the back of his car
In the null and void he sees
The man at the centre of the motorcade
Can choose between coffee and tea
In the boulevard, the motorcade holds sway
In the boulevard, the motorcade holds sway
In the boulevard, the motorcade holds sway
In the boulevard, the motorcade holds sway
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favorite song so far. although i have no clue as to what it is about, it's incredibly haunting.
To me it sounds like it's about the assassination of a politician. "into the null and void he shoots." "someone over there needs first aid."
it is about the murder of JFK indeed.
This is from the 2007 Real Life remaster booklet:-
Of Motorcade, Devoto said that "some of the idea for the song came from reading an article about a south American dictator who threw money out of the window of his limousine. [John F.] Kennedy was never in my mind".
Hope that clears some things up.
I think this song is about how power and politics can manipulate the man in the street. The snake imagery is powerful and brings to mind the hypnosis of rodents before a death strike. The need for first aiding the wider context can be ignored as we are fixed on the man in the middle of the motorcade. We are being programmed by the elites agenda, while the those making the decisions are barely able to make an informed decision as they can just tie their boots.