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.
So let's go deadbolt your shed door
Cram your paper money, snug, closer than before
Chandeliers are falling in graveyard rows
And your eyes are shifting dials like AM radios
Snowed over river, melted more last night
Still the same, the shattered windshields of spidered ice
Yes, yes, mother, I mean to be baptized
Seeds that make the higher ground grow and multiply
Joy to Rubidoux in the the middle of the night
Bourbon and a pistol in the dash, out of sight
What did you expect, romantic call of why?
Just empty, desert light
Few feet float above these Persian throw rugs
And tuck themselves in percussionist, succession words
Tonight, a single, simple folk play themselves low
Just like talking city blues, down in the hole we loathe
Joy to Rubidoux in the the middle of the night
Bourbon and a pistol in the dash, out of sight
What did you expect, romantic call of why?
Just empty, desert light
I suggest that you respect the deal
And keep your nose out of business of priests and holy men
The life you have chosen is filled with dirty finger nails
And lost and founds and canceled appointments
Ten, ten more avenues, time to choose
And there's rain that'll fall down on fire
There's fifty doors to choose from and there's many more
Many more inside, inside, inside
Well, the night time's going to come
The night time's going to come
Joy to Rubidoux in the the middle of the night
Bourbon and a pistol in the dash, out of sight
What did you expect, romantic call of why?
Just empty, desert light
Joy to Rubidoux in the the middle of the night
Joy to Rubidoux in the the middle of the night
Joy to Rubidoux in the the middle of the night
Just empty, desert light, it's just empty, desert light
It's just empty, desert light
Cram your paper money, snug, closer than before
Chandeliers are falling in graveyard rows
And your eyes are shifting dials like AM radios
Snowed over river, melted more last night
Still the same, the shattered windshields of spidered ice
Yes, yes, mother, I mean to be baptized
Seeds that make the higher ground grow and multiply
Joy to Rubidoux in the the middle of the night
Bourbon and a pistol in the dash, out of sight
What did you expect, romantic call of why?
Just empty, desert light
Few feet float above these Persian throw rugs
And tuck themselves in percussionist, succession words
Tonight, a single, simple folk play themselves low
Just like talking city blues, down in the hole we loathe
Joy to Rubidoux in the the middle of the night
Bourbon and a pistol in the dash, out of sight
What did you expect, romantic call of why?
Just empty, desert light
I suggest that you respect the deal
And keep your nose out of business of priests and holy men
The life you have chosen is filled with dirty finger nails
And lost and founds and canceled appointments
Ten, ten more avenues, time to choose
And there's rain that'll fall down on fire
There's fifty doors to choose from and there's many more
Many more inside, inside, inside
Well, the night time's going to come
The night time's going to come
Joy to Rubidoux in the the middle of the night
Bourbon and a pistol in the dash, out of sight
What did you expect, romantic call of why?
Just empty, desert light
Joy to Rubidoux in the the middle of the night
Joy to Rubidoux in the the middle of the night
Joy to Rubidoux in the the middle of the night
Just empty, desert light, it's just empty, desert light
It's just empty, desert light
Lyrics submitted by JonathanBC
Rubidoux Lyrics as written by Matthew Cole Aveiro Jonathan Bo Russell
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
The "Isle of Wight" reference is to the song "When I'm Sixty-Four" by the Beatles, where Paul Mccartney sings about how "Every summer we can rent a cottage, In the Isle of Wright, if it’s not too dear". Nathan is singing about how it's not going to be such a romantic experience as such.