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.
Put on your Bobbi-sox baby
Roll up your old blue jeans
There's a band playin' down at the armory
Know's what rock and roll really means
I want to ride in your '55 T-Bird
Drive through some old memories
I ain't after your body baby
I just want you to dance with me
I want to bop with you baby, all night long
I want to bop the night away
I want to make it a night like it used to be
When our hearts were young and our souls were free
I want to bop with you baby, all night long
I want to be-bop with you baby till the break of dawn
I want to bop with you baby all night long
I got an old photograph in my pocket
We were still in our teens
Lord knows I feel a lot older now
But you still look the same to me
Honey, you don't ever laugh like you used to
And I don't want to see you blue
If you ain't busy tonight and you think it's alright
This is what I want to do
I want to bop with you baby, all night long
I want to bop the night away
I want to make it a night like it used to be
Home and our hearts were young and free
I want to bop with you baby, all night long (bop, baby, all night long)
I want to be-bop with you baby till the break of dawn (be-bop, baby, to the break of dawn)
I want to bop with you baby all night long
Let's twist and shout
Oh, just like in the good old days
Baby, watch out
You know I just can't stand it when you look at me that way
I want to bop with you baby, all night long (bop, baby, all night long)
I want to be-bop with you baby till the break of dawn (be-bop, baby, to the break of dawn)
I want to bop with you baby all night (bop, baby, all night)
I want to bop with you baby all night long (bop, baby, all night long)
I want to be-bop with you baby till the break of dawn (be-bop, baby, to the break of dawn)
I want to make it a night like it used to be (bop, with me baby) (bop, with me baby)
When our hearts were young and our souls were free (bop, all night)
I want to bop with you baby all night long (bop, baby, all night long)
I want to be-bop with you baby till the break of dawn (be-bop, baby, to the break of dawn)
I want to make it night like it used to be (bop, with me baby) (bop, with me baby)
When our hearts were young and free (bop, all night)
(Bop, baby, all night long)
(Be-bop, baby, to the break of dawn)
(Bop, with me baby) (bop, with me baby)
(Bop, all night)
Roll up your old blue jeans
There's a band playin' down at the armory
Know's what rock and roll really means
I want to ride in your '55 T-Bird
Drive through some old memories
I ain't after your body baby
I just want you to dance with me
I want to bop with you baby, all night long
I want to bop the night away
I want to make it a night like it used to be
When our hearts were young and our souls were free
I want to bop with you baby, all night long
I want to be-bop with you baby till the break of dawn
I want to bop with you baby all night long
I got an old photograph in my pocket
We were still in our teens
Lord knows I feel a lot older now
But you still look the same to me
Honey, you don't ever laugh like you used to
And I don't want to see you blue
If you ain't busy tonight and you think it's alright
This is what I want to do
I want to bop with you baby, all night long
I want to bop the night away
I want to make it a night like it used to be
Home and our hearts were young and free
I want to bop with you baby, all night long (bop, baby, all night long)
I want to be-bop with you baby till the break of dawn (be-bop, baby, to the break of dawn)
I want to bop with you baby all night long
Let's twist and shout
Oh, just like in the good old days
Baby, watch out
You know I just can't stand it when you look at me that way
I want to bop with you baby, all night long (bop, baby, all night long)
I want to be-bop with you baby till the break of dawn (be-bop, baby, to the break of dawn)
I want to bop with you baby all night (bop, baby, all night)
I want to bop with you baby all night long (bop, baby, all night long)
I want to be-bop with you baby till the break of dawn (be-bop, baby, to the break of dawn)
I want to make it a night like it used to be (bop, with me baby) (bop, with me baby)
When our hearts were young and our souls were free (bop, all night)
I want to bop with you baby all night long (bop, baby, all night long)
I want to be-bop with you baby till the break of dawn (be-bop, baby, to the break of dawn)
I want to make it night like it used to be (bop, with me baby) (bop, with me baby)
When our hearts were young and free (bop, all night)
(Bop, baby, all night long)
(Be-bop, baby, to the break of dawn)
(Bop, with me baby) (bop, with me baby)
(Bop, all night)
Lyrics submitted by TonyHelms29624
Bop Lyrics as written by Paul Davis Jennifer Kimball
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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."
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,