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.
Just a dime store poet
Keeping pace, talking his face blue
Two dollar store tramps
To get a glance, a new chance at you
Walk past the dance floor
That's always been a dear friend of mine
Cuckolds and concubines
Dancing in four, four time
"Hey mister," the bellman says, "I can only recall last night's hotel," I said
So he replies, "Then how do you manage?"
I dodge the blast, and apologize for collateral damage
In love, I've always been a mercenary, but I never leave my post when the cash runs out
I want to make you quiver
Make your backbone shiver
Hey kid, take the stage and deliver
"Hey mister" the bellman says, "I can only recall last night's hotel," I said
So he replies, "Then how do you manage?"
I dodge the blast, and apologize for collateral damage
"How does it feel to stand on the very stones that ran with your parents' blood?
Do you feel sad? Full of rage? Or does that outfit help you bury your feelings?
Hiding your true self
You're truly an extraordinary specimen, I look forward to breaking you"
I dodge the blast, and apologize for collateral damage
"Hey mister," the bellman says, "I can only recall last night's hotel," I said
So he replies, "Then how do you manage?"
I dodge the blast, and apologize for collateral damage
"Hey mister," the bellman says, "I can only recall last night's hotel," I said
So he replies, "Then how do you manage?"
I dodge the blast, and apologize for collateral damage
Keeping pace, talking his face blue
Two dollar store tramps
To get a glance, a new chance at you
Walk past the dance floor
That's always been a dear friend of mine
Cuckolds and concubines
Dancing in four, four time
"Hey mister," the bellman says, "I can only recall last night's hotel," I said
So he replies, "Then how do you manage?"
I dodge the blast, and apologize for collateral damage
In love, I've always been a mercenary, but I never leave my post when the cash runs out
I want to make you quiver
Make your backbone shiver
Hey kid, take the stage and deliver
"Hey mister" the bellman says, "I can only recall last night's hotel," I said
So he replies, "Then how do you manage?"
I dodge the blast, and apologize for collateral damage
"How does it feel to stand on the very stones that ran with your parents' blood?
Do you feel sad? Full of rage? Or does that outfit help you bury your feelings?
Hiding your true self
You're truly an extraordinary specimen, I look forward to breaking you"
I dodge the blast, and apologize for collateral damage
"Hey mister," the bellman says, "I can only recall last night's hotel," I said
So he replies, "Then how do you manage?"
I dodge the blast, and apologize for collateral damage
"Hey mister," the bellman says, "I can only recall last night's hotel," I said
So he replies, "Then how do you manage?"
I dodge the blast, and apologize for collateral damage
Lyrics submitted by babyghostrogue, edited by Xerorei
Mercenary Lyrics as written by Ethan Kath Alice Glass
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
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Really? I think it's Dr. Strange speaking, since it look like he's becoming a more important villian in both Arkham City and The Dark Knight Rises. Especially when he calls him a 'speciman'.
"Hey mister, the bellman says, I can only recall last night's hotel, I said So he replies, "Then how do you manage?" I dodge the blast, and apologize for collateral damage" -I'm pretty sure this is Batman speaking as Bruce Wayne. He hides that he's been out all night as Batman by pretending that he's really been out partying and remembers nothing of last night except the name of the hotel. The bellman asks how he can do all this (meaning Wayne's success, not his role as Batman) and he replies with a line that can be taken two ways: literally, because he's actually Batman and he literally has to avoid getting killed and then apologize for the mess the villains are making. OR metaphorically, in that Wayne avoids trouble as a businessman and is always apologetic. So he safely answers the bellman's question while still alluding to the fact that he's Batman.
@babyghostrogue The song wasn't made specifically about batman, the song's about a wanderer kind of like Batman as a vigilante. Brendon Urie even said himself the actual song doesn't relate to Batman directly, he said it was about a wanderer. Also, it's "recall and spend some time" not something about last night's hotel. A BELLMAN IS THE MAN AT THE FRONT DESK AT A HOTEL BTW PEOPLE!<br />