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.
All the right friends in all the right places
So yeah, we're going down
They got all the right moves and all the right faces
So yeah, we're going down
Let's paint the picture of the perfect place
They got it better than what anyone's told you
They'll be the king of hearts and you're the queen of spades
And we'll fight for you like we were your soldiers
I know we got it good, but they got it made
And the grass is getting greener each day
I know things are looking up, but soon they'll take us down
Before anybody's knowing our name
They got all the right friends in all the right places
So yeah, we're going down
They got all the right moves and all the right faces
So yeah, we're going down
Said everybody knows, everybody knows where we're going
Yeah, we're going down
Said everybody knows, everybody knows where we're going
Yeah, we're going down
Do you think I'm special, do you think I'm nice
Am I bright enough to shine in your spaces
Between the noise you hear and the sound you like
Are we just sinking in the ocean of faces
It can't be possible, the rain can fall
Only when it's over our heads
The sun is shining everyday but it's far away
Over the world they said, they got
They got all the right friends in all the right places
So yeah, we're going down
They got all the right moves and all the right faces
So yeah, we're going down
Said everybody knows, everybody knows where we're going
Yeah, we're going down
Said everybody knows, everybody knows where we're going
Yeah, we're going down
It don't matter what you see
I know I could never be
Someone that'll look like you
It don't matter what you say
I know I could never face
Someone that can sound like you
All the right friends in all the right places
So yeah, we're going down
They got all the right moves and all the right faces
So yeah, we're going down
All the right friends in all the right places
So yeah, we're going down
They got all the right moves and all the right faces
So yeah, we're going down
Said everybody knows, everybody knows where we're going
Yeah, we're going down
Said everybody knows, everybody knows where we're going
Yeah, we're going down
Yeah, we're going down
Yeah, we're going down
All the right moves, hey
Yeah, we're going down
Yeah, we're going down
Yeah, we're going down
Yeah, we're going down
Yeah, we're going down
So yeah, we're going down
They got all the right moves and all the right faces
So yeah, we're going down
Let's paint the picture of the perfect place
They got it better than what anyone's told you
They'll be the king of hearts and you're the queen of spades
And we'll fight for you like we were your soldiers
I know we got it good, but they got it made
And the grass is getting greener each day
I know things are looking up, but soon they'll take us down
Before anybody's knowing our name
They got all the right friends in all the right places
So yeah, we're going down
They got all the right moves and all the right faces
So yeah, we're going down
Said everybody knows, everybody knows where we're going
Yeah, we're going down
Said everybody knows, everybody knows where we're going
Yeah, we're going down
Do you think I'm special, do you think I'm nice
Am I bright enough to shine in your spaces
Between the noise you hear and the sound you like
Are we just sinking in the ocean of faces
It can't be possible, the rain can fall
Only when it's over our heads
The sun is shining everyday but it's far away
Over the world they said, they got
They got all the right friends in all the right places
So yeah, we're going down
They got all the right moves and all the right faces
So yeah, we're going down
Said everybody knows, everybody knows where we're going
Yeah, we're going down
Said everybody knows, everybody knows where we're going
Yeah, we're going down
It don't matter what you see
I know I could never be
Someone that'll look like you
It don't matter what you say
I know I could never face
Someone that can sound like you
All the right friends in all the right places
So yeah, we're going down
They got all the right moves and all the right faces
So yeah, we're going down
All the right friends in all the right places
So yeah, we're going down
They got all the right moves and all the right faces
So yeah, we're going down
Said everybody knows, everybody knows where we're going
Yeah, we're going down
Said everybody knows, everybody knows where we're going
Yeah, we're going down
Yeah, we're going down
Yeah, we're going down
All the right moves, hey
Yeah, we're going down
Yeah, we're going down
Yeah, we're going down
Yeah, we're going down
Yeah, we're going down
Lyrics submitted by stevenisfading, edited by iyanarulz792
All The Right Moves Lyrics as written by Ryan Tedder
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Well, I think it's possibly a social commentary- the singer is critiquing the Bourgeoisie's general mistreatment of and disrespect for the working classes. This song bleeds of contempt.
This is emphasized by the music video, with all the beautiful, rich, well-dressed people wearing masks and performing the necessary intricate dances to particpate in the masquerade of upper-class life. They give the occassional coin to the down-trodden beggar boy; all the while, the boy is actually robbing them, posing the question as to who really has the upperhand.
I totally agree. Its kind of irritating when peoplelook at the surface of a song and just see what they want to. I mean yeh everything is open to criticism but honestly they see lines like King of Hearts and Queen of Spades and they automatically think it must be about some relationship. I think the idea of never really getting to a certain point in the music industry is also good and ties in with your idea becuz ur idea was portryed int he music video but the song itself speaks to what some of the others mentioned.
I have to say Annabanana I've been listening to this song alot, particularly on the elliptical. Listening to the lyrics has social stratification and the spread middle class and top 1% of America. Your interpretation by far has been the best I've so far reading in these meaning. If you watch the media and the news the fight between the King of Hearts (red) and the Queen of Spades (blue)is apparent. <br /> <br /> Let's paint the picture of the perfect place <br /> (America is perfect)<br /> They got it better than what anyone's told you <br /> <br /> Quote from someone in Int Politics class: "We are number one and always will be" I asked they never been outside the country. I can speak as one who has and there is a difference. <br /> <br /> There'll be the king of hearts and you're the queen of spades <br /> (Fight between the Dems and Repubs)<br /> And we'll fight for you like we were your soldiers<br /> (Voters picking sides without knowing the full details and believing rheotoric without researching.)<br /> I know we got it good, but they got it made <br /> (Other countries have health care, reduced education, and etc.)<br /> And the grass is getting greener each day <br /> (While some things get better the distribution of wealth goes up but doesnt come down)<br /> I know things are looking up, but soon they'll take us down <br /> <br /> Before anybody's knowing our name <br /> <br />
The boy isn't a beggar, you know. He's working for the band, collecting payment for the performance and doing a little larceny where the opportunity presents itself. In the end I think the song is about envy. It doesn't describe downtrodden and oppressed people. It describes people who aren't living a hard life, but want so much more and feel frustrated that they can't be at the top.