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.
(Alright, are we ready now?)
I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day
Ever since I was a tiny boy
I don't want no candy
I don't need no toy
I took a stick and an old coffee can
I bang on that thing 'til I got blisters on my hand because
I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day (yes I do)
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day (that's right)
When I get older they think I'm a fool
The teacher told me I should stay after school
She caught me pounding on the desk with my hands
But my licks was so hot
I made the teacher want to dance
And that's why
I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day (hey, why not?)
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day (I just wanna bang now)
I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day (I can bang that sucker)
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day (listen to this)
Every day when I get home from work
I feel so frustrated
The boss is a jerk
And I get my sticks and go out to the shed
And I pound on that drum like it was the boss's head
Because
I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day (bang, bang)
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day (I could bang that drum)
I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day (hey, hey)
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day (but this is why I bang that drum)
I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day (hey, you want to take a bang at it?)
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day (hey, hey)
I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day (bang, bang)
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day (I could do this all day)
I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day
Ever since I was a tiny boy
I don't want no candy
I don't need no toy
I took a stick and an old coffee can
I bang on that thing 'til I got blisters on my hand because
I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day (yes I do)
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day (that's right)
When I get older they think I'm a fool
The teacher told me I should stay after school
She caught me pounding on the desk with my hands
But my licks was so hot
I made the teacher want to dance
And that's why
I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day (hey, why not?)
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day (I just wanna bang now)
I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day (I can bang that sucker)
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day (listen to this)
Every day when I get home from work
I feel so frustrated
The boss is a jerk
And I get my sticks and go out to the shed
And I pound on that drum like it was the boss's head
Because
I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day (bang, bang)
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day (I could bang that drum)
I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day (hey, hey)
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day (but this is why I bang that drum)
I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day (hey, you want to take a bang at it?)
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day (hey, hey)
I don't want to work
I want to bang on the drum all day (bang, bang)
I don't want to play
I just want to bang on the drum all day (I could do this all day)
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Bang the Drum All Day Lyrics as written by Todd Rundgren
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Hipgnosis Songs Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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