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.
OK, yeah it's Hadouken!
It's our dance lesson
We keep that movin'
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
We keep that movin'
We keep that movin'
Now work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, shake it
Move it, yeah move that ass
Move, move, move, move that ass
Shake it, shake it, work it
Yeah, yeah, you've gotta work it
You've gotta shake your back
Don't have to look hard, you're not a gangsta
You live with your mum and you work in Asda
So what you gotta start a fight
Can you have one dance on a Saturday night?
I know that, it's cool to be hard and hard to be cool
Just like at school
When you're out with the lads don't act like a tool
Well you have to move in your own way
Don't worry what they say
You'll soon grow up and do the cliché
Now work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, shake it
Move it, yeah move that ass
Move, move, move, move that ass
Shake it, shake it, work it
Yeah, yeah, you've gotta work it
You've gotta shake your back
You've gotta work it
Well you have to move in your own way
Don't worry what they say
You'll soon grow up and do the cliché
Do the cliché, hey
Go on the dance, yes please
Get on the dancefloor, don't freeze
Shake your booty, move them knees
Get down to the rythm of the 80s cheese
Don't have to look hard, you're not a gangsta
You live with your mum and you work in Asda
So what you gotta start a fight
Can you have one dance on a Saturday night?
I know that, it's cool to be hard and hard to be cool
Just like at school
When you're out with the lads don't act like a tool
Well you have to move in your own way
Don't worry what they say
You'll soon grow up and do the cliché
Do the cliché, hey
Now work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, shake it
Move it, yeah move that ass
Move, move, move, move that ass
Shake it, shake it, work it
Yeah, yeah, you've gotta work it
You've gotta shake your booty
We keep that movin'
Now work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, shake it
Move it, yeah move that ass
Move, move, move, move that ass
Shake it, shake it, work it
Yeah, yeah, you've gotta work it
You've gotta shake your back
We keep that movin'
You gotta work it
We keep that movin'
We keep that movin'
We keep that movin'
We keep that movin'
We keep that movin'
It's our dance lesson
We keep that movin'
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
We keep that movin'
We keep that movin'
Now work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, shake it
Move it, yeah move that ass
Move, move, move, move that ass
Shake it, shake it, work it
Yeah, yeah, you've gotta work it
You've gotta shake your back
Don't have to look hard, you're not a gangsta
You live with your mum and you work in Asda
So what you gotta start a fight
Can you have one dance on a Saturday night?
I know that, it's cool to be hard and hard to be cool
Just like at school
When you're out with the lads don't act like a tool
Well you have to move in your own way
Don't worry what they say
You'll soon grow up and do the cliché
Now work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, shake it
Move it, yeah move that ass
Move, move, move, move that ass
Shake it, shake it, work it
Yeah, yeah, you've gotta work it
You've gotta shake your back
You've gotta work it
Well you have to move in your own way
Don't worry what they say
You'll soon grow up and do the cliché
Do the cliché, hey
Go on the dance, yes please
Get on the dancefloor, don't freeze
Shake your booty, move them knees
Get down to the rythm of the 80s cheese
Don't have to look hard, you're not a gangsta
You live with your mum and you work in Asda
So what you gotta start a fight
Can you have one dance on a Saturday night?
I know that, it's cool to be hard and hard to be cool
Just like at school
When you're out with the lads don't act like a tool
Well you have to move in your own way
Don't worry what they say
You'll soon grow up and do the cliché
Do the cliché, hey
Now work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, shake it
Move it, yeah move that ass
Move, move, move, move that ass
Shake it, shake it, work it
Yeah, yeah, you've gotta work it
You've gotta shake your booty
We keep that movin'
Now work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, work it, shake it
Move it, yeah move that ass
Move, move, move, move that ass
Shake it, shake it, work it
Yeah, yeah, you've gotta work it
You've gotta shake your back
We keep that movin'
You gotta work it
We keep that movin'
We keep that movin'
We keep that movin'
We keep that movin'
We keep that movin'
Lyrics submitted by romanceisdead
Dance Lesson Lyrics as written by James Joseph Smith
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I believe it says " Shake your booty, move them knees".. it fits in with the whole rhyming at that time and whatnot.
Yeah, it's definately "move them knees". I think this song is basically about dancing any way you want, as long as you're at least dancing. Hadouken! rocks.
in some parts yea i think it could be bout dancing in anyway you want. but i also think by; "Can you have one dance on a Saturday night?" i think that could mean a fight. because the first verse comes across to me as a teenager who goes out on weekends looking for fights. oh i dont know lol :). goood song though.
"It's cool to be hard and hard to be cool." That is one of the best lyrics ever. It sums how I think, that all people care about is proving how hard they are and how hard everyone else is.
This song just represents everyone. Shouting their mouth about all the time just to prove themselves and make themselves look hard, when they're most probably not.