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.
Joanie could have saved her life
If she’d just put on a dress
And said Jesus the only child
Jesus is an only child
Jesus is the only child of god
Why would a god send a woman to do what men had always done
Why would she do that?
Joseph could have saved his life
If he’d just taken the pardon
Said I was guilty but now I’m free
Said I was guilty but now I’m free
Said I was guilty but now I’m free
Who needs fair trials anyway when freedom is all that we wage
Who’d die for that
I want to be a martyr
I want to die for this song
I want to be a martyr
I want to die for this song
Oh ohhhh yeah
Aileen could have saved her life
If she’d just got a respectable job
And said I don’t want to hook no more
I don’t want to hook no more
I don’t want to hook no more
The economy is looking fine
Plenty of good jobs you’ll find
For a poor uneducated white trash woman with no experience
I want to be a martyr
I want to die for this song
I want to be a martyr
I want to die for this song
Oh ohhhh yeah
If she’d just put on a dress
And said Jesus the only child
Jesus is an only child
Jesus is the only child of god
Why would a god send a woman to do what men had always done
Why would she do that?
Joseph could have saved his life
If he’d just taken the pardon
Said I was guilty but now I’m free
Said I was guilty but now I’m free
Said I was guilty but now I’m free
Who needs fair trials anyway when freedom is all that we wage
Who’d die for that
I want to be a martyr
I want to die for this song
I want to be a martyr
I want to die for this song
Oh ohhhh yeah
Aileen could have saved her life
If she’d just got a respectable job
And said I don’t want to hook no more
I don’t want to hook no more
I don’t want to hook no more
The economy is looking fine
Plenty of good jobs you’ll find
For a poor uneducated white trash woman with no experience
I want to be a martyr
I want to die for this song
I want to be a martyr
I want to die for this song
Oh ohhhh yeah
Lyrics submitted by displacedfever
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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American Town
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