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.
Now what's up with the walkin' man
I wonder where he's gone
Marchin' down to Birmingham
I think I'll tag along
Was a walkin' man come by here
A hundred years ago
Walkin' down the trail of tears
Out to Oklahom-i-o out to Oklahome
Hand me down my walkin' shoes
Hand me down my cane
Tune me up my mandolin
I'll be on my way, hey sure does smell like rain
Woody Guthrie was a walkin' man
In the dust bowl days
Had a six string guitar in his hands
He killed a fascist every day
Chuck Berry is a walkin' man
So was Ghandi too
Lace me up my ol' Brogans
That's just what I'll do
I got walkin' left to do
Hand me down my walkin' shoes
Hand me down my cane
Tune me up my mandolin
I'll be on my way, hey
If I had shoes like the walkin' man
Tell you what I'd do
I'd walk away and not come back
Till I got to Katmandu-da-do-da
All the do-da-day
I wonder where he's gone
Marchin' down to Birmingham
I think I'll tag along
Was a walkin' man come by here
A hundred years ago
Walkin' down the trail of tears
Out to Oklahom-i-o out to Oklahome
Hand me down my walkin' shoes
Hand me down my cane
Tune me up my mandolin
I'll be on my way, hey sure does smell like rain
Woody Guthrie was a walkin' man
In the dust bowl days
Had a six string guitar in his hands
He killed a fascist every day
Chuck Berry is a walkin' man
So was Ghandi too
Lace me up my ol' Brogans
That's just what I'll do
I got walkin' left to do
Hand me down my walkin' shoes
Hand me down my cane
Tune me up my mandolin
I'll be on my way, hey
If I had shoes like the walkin' man
Tell you what I'd do
I'd walk away and not come back
Till I got to Katmandu-da-do-da
All the do-da-day
Lyrics submitted by Miss_Misery
Walkin' Man Lyrics as written by Steve Nelson Guy Clark
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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