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.
Let me introduce you to my time machine
See my souped up bird spread her golden wings
Going back in black through my neighborhood
My main street middle class Hollywood
Jenny’s all jet-set 'Purple Rain' cassette
Looking like she was the queen of the 80’s
And if I knew back then what I know right now
Yeah, you know I'd be the king of the ladies
If I knew back then what I know right now
You know I'd be the king of the ladies
Yeah, if I knew back then what I know right now
There’d be no ifs, and buts and no maybes
Just an average Joe making minimum wage
Burger flipping on the beach instead of hitting the wave
While the girls walk by with their copper tone tan
Sucker punching the clocks, stop working for the man
Well, there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
Oh Candy, oh would you save me?
If I knew back then what I know right now
You know I'd be the king of the ladies
If I knew back then what I know right now
You know I'd be the king of the ladies
Yeah, if I knew back then what I know right now
There’d be no ifs, and buts and no maybes
If I knew back then what I know right now
You know I'd be the king of the ladies
Yeah, if I knew back then what I know right now
There’d be no ifs, and buts and no maybes
I walked into the dance in the High school gym
This girl with drop dead legs, I’m moving in
You know it must have been the DJ spinning 'Billy Jean'
I tapped Nikki on the shoulder told her dance with me
Was like that scene from 'Grease' the way we bumped to the beat
I had the girl give me the slip, she got away from me
'Cause if I knew back then what I know right now
You know I'd have the pick of the ladies
If I knew back then what I know right now
You know I'd be the king of the ladies
Yeah, if I knew back then what I know right now
There’d be no ifs, and buts and no maybes
If I knew back then what I know right now
You know I'd be the king of the ladies
Yeah, if I knew back then what I know right now
There’d be no ifs, and buts and no maybes
If I knew back then what I know right now
You know I'd be the king of the ladies
Yeah, if I knew back then what I know right now
There’d be no ifs, and buts and no maybes
If I knew back then what I know right now
You know I'd be the king of the ladies
If I knew back then what I know right now
There’d be no ifs, and buts and no maybes
See my souped up bird spread her golden wings
Going back in black through my neighborhood
My main street middle class Hollywood
Jenny’s all jet-set 'Purple Rain' cassette
Looking like she was the queen of the 80’s
And if I knew back then what I know right now
Yeah, you know I'd be the king of the ladies
If I knew back then what I know right now
You know I'd be the king of the ladies
Yeah, if I knew back then what I know right now
There’d be no ifs, and buts and no maybes
Just an average Joe making minimum wage
Burger flipping on the beach instead of hitting the wave
While the girls walk by with their copper tone tan
Sucker punching the clocks, stop working for the man
Well, there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
Oh Candy, oh would you save me?
If I knew back then what I know right now
You know I'd be the king of the ladies
If I knew back then what I know right now
You know I'd be the king of the ladies
Yeah, if I knew back then what I know right now
There’d be no ifs, and buts and no maybes
If I knew back then what I know right now
You know I'd be the king of the ladies
Yeah, if I knew back then what I know right now
There’d be no ifs, and buts and no maybes
I walked into the dance in the High school gym
This girl with drop dead legs, I’m moving in
You know it must have been the DJ spinning 'Billy Jean'
I tapped Nikki on the shoulder told her dance with me
Was like that scene from 'Grease' the way we bumped to the beat
I had the girl give me the slip, she got away from me
'Cause if I knew back then what I know right now
You know I'd have the pick of the ladies
If I knew back then what I know right now
You know I'd be the king of the ladies
Yeah, if I knew back then what I know right now
There’d be no ifs, and buts and no maybes
If I knew back then what I know right now
You know I'd be the king of the ladies
Yeah, if I knew back then what I know right now
There’d be no ifs, and buts and no maybes
If I knew back then what I know right now
You know I'd be the king of the ladies
Yeah, if I knew back then what I know right now
There’d be no ifs, and buts and no maybes
If I knew back then what I know right now
You know I'd be the king of the ladies
If I knew back then what I know right now
There’d be no ifs, and buts and no maybes
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