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.
Ah, icky thump
Who'd a thunk?
Sittin' drunk on a wagon to Mexico
Ah, well
What a chump
Man my head got a bump
When I hit it on the radio
Redhead señorita
Lookin' dead
Came and said
Need a bed in Español
Said, gimme a drink of water
I'm gonna sing around the collar
And I don't need a microphone
Icky thump
With the lump in my throat
Grab my coat
And I was freaking
I was ready to go
Yeah, I swear besides the hair
She had one white eye
One blank stare
Lookin' up, lyin' there
On the stand near her hand
Was a candy cane
Black rum, sugar cane
Dry ice, something strange
La la la la la la la la la la
White Americans
What, nothing better to do?
Why don't you kick yourself out?
You're an immigrant too
Who's usin' who?
What should we do?
Well, you can't be a pimp
And a prostitute too
Icky thump
Handcuffed to a bunk
Robbed blind
Looked around
There was nobody else
Left alone
I hit myself with a stone
Went home
And learned how to clean up after myself
Who'd a thunk?
Sittin' drunk on a wagon to Mexico
Ah, well
What a chump
Man my head got a bump
When I hit it on the radio
Redhead señorita
Lookin' dead
Came and said
Need a bed in Español
Said, gimme a drink of water
I'm gonna sing around the collar
And I don't need a microphone
Icky thump
With the lump in my throat
Grab my coat
And I was freaking
I was ready to go
Yeah, I swear besides the hair
She had one white eye
One blank stare
Lookin' up, lyin' there
On the stand near her hand
Was a candy cane
Black rum, sugar cane
Dry ice, something strange
La la la la la la la la la la
White Americans
What, nothing better to do?
Why don't you kick yourself out?
You're an immigrant too
Who's usin' who?
What should we do?
Well, you can't be a pimp
And a prostitute too
Icky thump
Handcuffed to a bunk
Robbed blind
Looked around
There was nobody else
Left alone
I hit myself with a stone
Went home
And learned how to clean up after myself
Lyrics submitted by The Drizzle, edited by yasmeen914
Icky Thump Lyrics as written by John Anthony White
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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and icky thump is a british expression, exclusive to north britain