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.
Heat and dust a shout above the din
Pushed into the corner the creeping little thing
Down in the basement the ugly band plays
In the middle of the night a light behind the door
Stubbing out a cigarette, stumbling to the floor
Outside in the desert, out across the waves >br> we're listening to the country boys and Dancing on their graves
Down in the basement the ugly band plays
Me and my brother Clive we were chased like dogs
Down by the harbourside while the captain burned the log
The submarines go sailing out under the sea
Off to melt the ice cap and make the deserts bloom
Down in the basement the ugly band plays
On the surface of the atlas distorted by greed
Bright rainbow boundaries and deep hollow seas
God is in his heaven blowing clouds around
Tuning in his radio and listening to the sounds
Down in the basement the ugly band plays
Tired of his music and licking it's teeth
Heat and dust and broken finger nails
The tracks of my tears stretch out
On dirty little roads
Down in the basement the ugly band plays
Noone ever says
Pushed into the corner the creeping little thing
Down in the basement the ugly band plays
In the middle of the night a light behind the door
Stubbing out a cigarette, stumbling to the floor
Outside in the desert, out across the waves >br> we're listening to the country boys and Dancing on their graves
Down in the basement the ugly band plays
Me and my brother Clive we were chased like dogs
Down by the harbourside while the captain burned the log
The submarines go sailing out under the sea
Off to melt the ice cap and make the deserts bloom
Down in the basement the ugly band plays
On the surface of the atlas distorted by greed
Bright rainbow boundaries and deep hollow seas
God is in his heaven blowing clouds around
Tuning in his radio and listening to the sounds
Down in the basement the ugly band plays
Tired of his music and licking it's teeth
Heat and dust and broken finger nails
The tracks of my tears stretch out
On dirty little roads
Down in the basement the ugly band plays
Noone ever says
Lyrics submitted by TheIntimindator27
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