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.
My car goes, Chicago,
Every weekend I pick up some cargo
I think I know the bloody way by now, Frankie
Turn the god damn radio down, thank you
Pull over, count the money
But don't count the thirty in the glove box buddy
That's for to buy Lucille some clothes
Bang bang bang went Frankie's gun
(He shot me down Lucille)
Bang bang bang went Frankie's gun
(He shot me down Lucille)
He shot me down
(He shot me down)
Work zones, double fines
Don't pass the double lines
Trailer McDonald's rest stop trailer double wide
I saw a man hit my mom one time, really
I hurt him so damn bad I had to hide in Jersey
Called my mama told her
In the dresser
There's ten or twenty dollars but there ain't no lesser
That's for to take my sister to the picture show
Bang bang bang went Frankie's gun
(He shot me down Lucille)
Bang bang bang went Frankie's gun
(He shot me down Lucille)
He shot me down
(He shot me down)
Sha nay na sha nay na na na ...
(Mumbling)
Slip make a fender shine
Frankie you're a friend of mine
Got me off a bender after long legged Brenda died
I thought we might be on a roll this time Frankie
I could have swore the box said Hollywood blanks but
You see my mama
Please tell her
I left a little rock in a box in the cellar
That's for to wear till kingdom come
Bang bang bang went Frankie's gun
(He shot me down Lucille)
Bang bang bang went Frankie's gun
(He shot me down Lucille)
He shot me down
(He shot me down)
Sha nay na sha nay na na na ...
Yodle ay hee hooo!
Every weekend I pick up some cargo
I think I know the bloody way by now, Frankie
Turn the god damn radio down, thank you
Pull over, count the money
But don't count the thirty in the glove box buddy
That's for to buy Lucille some clothes
Bang bang bang went Frankie's gun
(He shot me down Lucille)
Bang bang bang went Frankie's gun
(He shot me down Lucille)
He shot me down
(He shot me down)
Work zones, double fines
Don't pass the double lines
Trailer McDonald's rest stop trailer double wide
I saw a man hit my mom one time, really
I hurt him so damn bad I had to hide in Jersey
Called my mama told her
In the dresser
There's ten or twenty dollars but there ain't no lesser
That's for to take my sister to the picture show
Bang bang bang went Frankie's gun
(He shot me down Lucille)
Bang bang bang went Frankie's gun
(He shot me down Lucille)
He shot me down
(He shot me down)
Sha nay na sha nay na na na ...
(Mumbling)
Slip make a fender shine
Frankie you're a friend of mine
Got me off a bender after long legged Brenda died
I thought we might be on a roll this time Frankie
I could have swore the box said Hollywood blanks but
You see my mama
Please tell her
I left a little rock in a box in the cellar
That's for to wear till kingdom come
Bang bang bang went Frankie's gun
(He shot me down Lucille)
Bang bang bang went Frankie's gun
(He shot me down Lucille)
He shot me down
(He shot me down)
Sha nay na sha nay na na na ...
Yodle ay hee hooo!
Lyrics submitted by shayborg, edited by noelsguitar
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I found it interesting that when I saw these guys live (for the second time) they changed the line: "You see my mama/Please tell her/I left a little rock in a box in the cellar." The show was a live radio hour here in Louisville, KY, and instead they sang, "You see my BABY/Please tell her..." Which makes more sense to me. I would see giving a sweetheart a ring to wear forever as more likely than giving one to your mother...
some people call their "baby" mamma
I always thought, actually, that it was "that's for the way to kingdom come" - and that, therefore, by "rock" he meant cocaine. This would be either so that she could sell it or use it to forget about his death. But I actually really like mntecky's interpretation too. And, like kjoyo says, by "mama" he probably doesn't literally mean his mother.
Yeah, before the show I had only heard the CD version of "mama."