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.
No deal, you can’t sell this stuff to me
No deal, I’m going back to Tennesee
Now this man down at the used car lot
Tried to sell me four wheels and a trunk.
I said, "But man, there ain't no engine!"
He said, "The engine’s just a bunch of junk.
You don’t need no engine to go downhill
And I could plainly see, that that’s the direction
You’re headed in," and he handed me the keys.
(I said) no deal, you can’t sell this stuff to me
No deal, I’m going back to Tennesee
Well, I went to a doctor of the highest order,
He said I couldn’t have a drink for a year.
One glass of wine on my birthday
If my birthday wasn’t too very near.
Lord, he must have put me in a state of shock
’cause I made it for about two weeks
Then he sent me a bill
That knocked me flat off the wagon
And back down on my feet.
When true love knocked upon my door
She’d just barely turned fifteen
And I was a little bit nervous
If you know just what I mean.
But I’ve heard somewhere
That true love conquers all
And I figured that was that
Then I started having dreams ’bout
Being chased out of town
Wearing nothing but my cowboy hat.
Well, I come through this life a stumbler, my friends
I expect to die that way
It could be twenty years from now
It could be most any day.
But if there is no whiskey and women, lord,
Behind them heavenly doors
I’m gonna take my chances down below,
And of that you can be sure.
No deal, I’m going back to Tennesee
Now this man down at the used car lot
Tried to sell me four wheels and a trunk.
I said, "But man, there ain't no engine!"
He said, "The engine’s just a bunch of junk.
You don’t need no engine to go downhill
And I could plainly see, that that’s the direction
You’re headed in," and he handed me the keys.
(I said) no deal, you can’t sell this stuff to me
No deal, I’m going back to Tennesee
Well, I went to a doctor of the highest order,
He said I couldn’t have a drink for a year.
One glass of wine on my birthday
If my birthday wasn’t too very near.
Lord, he must have put me in a state of shock
’cause I made it for about two weeks
Then he sent me a bill
That knocked me flat off the wagon
And back down on my feet.
When true love knocked upon my door
She’d just barely turned fifteen
And I was a little bit nervous
If you know just what I mean.
But I’ve heard somewhere
That true love conquers all
And I figured that was that
Then I started having dreams ’bout
Being chased out of town
Wearing nothing but my cowboy hat.
Well, I come through this life a stumbler, my friends
I expect to die that way
It could be twenty years from now
It could be most any day.
But if there is no whiskey and women, lord,
Behind them heavenly doors
I’m gonna take my chances down below,
And of that you can be sure.
Lyrics submitted by zhenya
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