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.
Some people's hot
Some people's cold
Some people's not very
Swift to behold
Some people do it
Some see right through it
Some wear pyjamas
If only they knew it
The pyjama people are boring me to pieces
Feel like I am wasting my time
They all got flannel up 'n down 'em
A little trap-door back aroun' 'em
An' some cozy little footies on their mind
Po-jama people
Po-jama people, people
They sure do make you sleepy
With the things they might say
Po-jama people
Po-jama people, people
Mother mary 'n jozuf, I wish they'd all go away
Po-jama people
It's a po-jama people special
Take one home with you, save a dollar today
Po-jama people
Po-jama people, people
Wrap 'em up
Roll 'em out
Get 'em out of my way
Hein nya-nya-hein nya-nya-hein nya-nya-hein
Hoey hoey hoey
Wrap 'em up
Roll 'em out
Get 'em out of my way
Hein nya-nya-hein nya-nya-hein nya-nya-hein
Hoey hoey hoey
Wrap 'em up
Roll 'em out
Get 'em out of my way
Hein nya-nya-hein nya-nya-hein nya-nya-hein
Hoey hoey hoey
(Well ) now some people's hot
An' some people's cold
(Well, lawd) an' some people's not very
(Very) swift to behold (swifty)
(I told you) some people do it (do it)
(Yes, they do) (no)
Some see right through it
(See right through it)
An' some wear po-jamas
If only they knew it
The pyjama people are boring me to pieces
They make me feel like I am wasting my time
They all got flannel up 'n down 'em
A little trap-door back aroun' 'em
An' some cozy little footies on their mind
Po-jama people
Po-jama people, people
Lawd, they make you sleepy
With the things they might say (hey, yeah-hey)
Po-jama people
(Well now) po-jama people, people
(I said) arf arf arf
I wish they'd all go away
Po-jama people (people) (oh, yeah)
Po-jama people special
(I said, I said, I said)
Take one home with you, & save a dollar today
Po-jama people
(It's a) po-jama people, people (special)
Wrap 'em up
An' roll 'em out
Get 'em out of my way
Hoey hoey hoey
Wrap 'em up
An' roll 'em out
Get 'em out of my way
Hoey hoey hoey
Wrap 'em up
Roll 'em out
Get 'em out of my way
Hoey hoey hoey
(Yeah-ha-ha)
Some people's cold
Some people's not very
Swift to behold
Some people do it
Some see right through it
Some wear pyjamas
If only they knew it
The pyjama people are boring me to pieces
Feel like I am wasting my time
They all got flannel up 'n down 'em
A little trap-door back aroun' 'em
An' some cozy little footies on their mind
Po-jama people
Po-jama people, people
They sure do make you sleepy
With the things they might say
Po-jama people
Po-jama people, people
Mother mary 'n jozuf, I wish they'd all go away
Po-jama people
It's a po-jama people special
Take one home with you, save a dollar today
Po-jama people
Po-jama people, people
Wrap 'em up
Roll 'em out
Get 'em out of my way
Hein nya-nya-hein nya-nya-hein nya-nya-hein
Hoey hoey hoey
Wrap 'em up
Roll 'em out
Get 'em out of my way
Hein nya-nya-hein nya-nya-hein nya-nya-hein
Hoey hoey hoey
Wrap 'em up
Roll 'em out
Get 'em out of my way
Hein nya-nya-hein nya-nya-hein nya-nya-hein
Hoey hoey hoey
(Well ) now some people's hot
An' some people's cold
(Well, lawd) an' some people's not very
(Very) swift to behold (swifty)
(I told you) some people do it (do it)
(Yes, they do) (no)
Some see right through it
(See right through it)
An' some wear po-jamas
If only they knew it
The pyjama people are boring me to pieces
They make me feel like I am wasting my time
They all got flannel up 'n down 'em
A little trap-door back aroun' 'em
An' some cozy little footies on their mind
Po-jama people
Po-jama people, people
Lawd, they make you sleepy
With the things they might say (hey, yeah-hey)
Po-jama people
(Well now) po-jama people, people
(I said) arf arf arf
I wish they'd all go away
Po-jama people (people) (oh, yeah)
Po-jama people special
(I said, I said, I said)
Take one home with you, & save a dollar today
Po-jama people
(It's a) po-jama people, people (special)
Wrap 'em up
An' roll 'em out
Get 'em out of my way
Hoey hoey hoey
Wrap 'em up
An' roll 'em out
Get 'em out of my way
Hoey hoey hoey
Wrap 'em up
Roll 'em out
Get 'em out of my way
Hoey hoey hoey
(Yeah-ha-ha)
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
I Can't Go To Sleep
Wu-Tang Clan
Wu-Tang Clan
This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
particularly people who were doing a lot of downers, giving themselves "cozy little footies on their mind"... part of the pajamas, but also referring to the drugged state of mind: euphoria, and being kind of unaware as to what's really going on around the po-jama people trying to interact with sober people. the people say stupid shit cause they're all drugged up, hence the people are boring and "sleepy" (pajamas for sleeping duh)