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.
I can feel the life runnin' out of me workin' here at Pete's
Two years ago it was just the thing
Workin' cars part time every week
I met 'em both at a drag race
They both dressed pretty snappy that day
Pete's wife Peg put the make on me
While Pete just looked the other way
Now no one can say what your future will hold
Or what your life will have in store
We went home that night
Pete passed out on the couch
And then Peg pulled me down on the floor
Well, I know she knew what she was doing
Forbidden fruit, but what the hell, I bit
That's all it took, my fate was sealed
That night the flame was lit
And every night when the lights go out
Pete drinks his booze and then he passes out
And I hear a footstep outside my door
And then I remember what I started working here for
CHORUS
Peg and Pete and me
One and one and one make three
Peg and Pete and me
One and one and one make three
Now tell me what would you do if you were in my shoes?
Tonight Peg, we gotta stop this thing
I don't know if we can, Peg said
"Don't worry, now Pete's asleep and I've got a certain plan
You know everything is in my name," she said,
"and anyway I love you so very much.
He'll never feel a thing
Just like he never woke up
And after that it will be just us."
Every night when the lights go out
Pete drinks his booze and then he passes out
And I hear a footstep outside my door
And then I remember what I started working here for
CHORUS
The next morning when I woke up Peg was gone
But the dtective said, "Son, yo ugotta come downtown with me
'Cause we know you killed Pete dead."
The jury found me guilty
And sent me up for ninety-nine to life
And if there's any advice I can give from this cell
NEver trust a rich, dead man's wife
CHORUS
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Two years ago it was just the thing
Workin' cars part time every week
I met 'em both at a drag race
They both dressed pretty snappy that day
Pete's wife Peg put the make on me
While Pete just looked the other way
Now no one can say what your future will hold
Or what your life will have in store
We went home that night
Pete passed out on the couch
And then Peg pulled me down on the floor
Well, I know she knew what she was doing
Forbidden fruit, but what the hell, I bit
That's all it took, my fate was sealed
That night the flame was lit
And every night when the lights go out
Pete drinks his booze and then he passes out
And I hear a footstep outside my door
And then I remember what I started working here for
CHORUS
Peg and Pete and me
One and one and one make three
Peg and Pete and me
One and one and one make three
Now tell me what would you do if you were in my shoes?
Tonight Peg, we gotta stop this thing
I don't know if we can, Peg said
"Don't worry, now Pete's asleep and I've got a certain plan
You know everything is in my name," she said,
"and anyway I love you so very much.
He'll never feel a thing
Just like he never woke up
And after that it will be just us."
Every night when the lights go out
Pete drinks his booze and then he passes out
And I hear a footstep outside my door
And then I remember what I started working here for
CHORUS
The next morning when I woke up Peg was gone
But the dtective said, "Son, yo ugotta come downtown with me
'Cause we know you killed Pete dead."
The jury found me guilty
And sent me up for ninety-nine to life
And if there's any advice I can give from this cell
NEver trust a rich, dead man's wife
CHORUS
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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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