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.
Well I am Chang and you are Eng
I’m not a man I am a men
We’re called original Siamese
Though technically we are Chinese
I am Eng and you are Chang
We’ve put on shows in every land (but not in France)
We skip back flip and dance and run
We don’t you come see us play badminton
To you to me to me to you
Coz we were born together
Died still tethered
Laughed more than cried together
What else is there to do?
I’ll stick by me, I’ll stick by you
Tired of being shown around (like a clown from town to town)
Now’s the time to settle down (and use our savings)
Find ourselves a pair of ladies, ladies, ladies
I long to be a simple man (a man a men a man a men)
I found 2 sisters fair and true (uh oh)
There’s one for me and one for you (but I don’t want one)
Don’t be shy, I know you’re blue (I am shy)
I’ll show you what you need to do
In and out and out and in
Coz we were born together
Died still tethered
Laughed more than cried together
What else is there to do?
I’ll stick by me, I’ll stick by you
A few years on and everything is on the rocks
We often come to blows and the sisters don’t get on
3 days at your house 3 days at mine
I wish you’d stop all the gambling
Yeah well you quit the wine
Maybe we should be living separate lives
These days there’s more downers than uppers
Is the time now upon us to stop being brothers?
Doctor says he can cut us
He needs 2 yeses to go
What you say
Well I say no
Coz we are Chang and we are Eng
4 arms 4 legs 2 heads 1 men
2 wives and 21 children
Well if I could I’d live this life again
Coz we were born together
Died still tethered
Laughed more than cried together
We knew this day was coming, a day so blue
You didn’t get up this morning now I can’t too
The doctors here again
He needs one yes to go
But I said no
Coz we are Chang and we are Eng
I’m not a man I am a men
We’re called original Siamese
Though technically we are Chinese
I am Eng and you are Chang
We’ve put on shows in every land (but not in France)
We skip back flip and dance and run
We don’t you come see us play badminton
To you to me to me to you
Coz we were born together
Died still tethered
Laughed more than cried together
What else is there to do?
I’ll stick by me, I’ll stick by you
Tired of being shown around (like a clown from town to town)
Now’s the time to settle down (and use our savings)
Find ourselves a pair of ladies, ladies, ladies
I long to be a simple man (a man a men a man a men)
I found 2 sisters fair and true (uh oh)
There’s one for me and one for you (but I don’t want one)
Don’t be shy, I know you’re blue (I am shy)
I’ll show you what you need to do
In and out and out and in
Coz we were born together
Died still tethered
Laughed more than cried together
What else is there to do?
I’ll stick by me, I’ll stick by you
A few years on and everything is on the rocks
We often come to blows and the sisters don’t get on
3 days at your house 3 days at mine
I wish you’d stop all the gambling
Yeah well you quit the wine
Maybe we should be living separate lives
These days there’s more downers than uppers
Is the time now upon us to stop being brothers?
Doctor says he can cut us
He needs 2 yeses to go
What you say
Well I say no
Coz we are Chang and we are Eng
4 arms 4 legs 2 heads 1 men
2 wives and 21 children
Well if I could I’d live this life again
Coz we were born together
Died still tethered
Laughed more than cried together
We knew this day was coming, a day so blue
You didn’t get up this morning now I can’t too
The doctors here again
He needs one yes to go
But I said no
Coz we are Chang and we are Eng
Lyrics submitted by Zorlin
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