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.
Blue Gene baby
Skinny white sailor,
The chances were slender
The beauties were brief
Shall I mourn your decline
With some Thunderbird wine
And a black handkerchief?
I miss your sad Virginia whisper
I miss the voice that called my heart
Sweet Gene Vincent
Young and old and gone
Sweet Gene Vincent
Who, who, who slapped John?
White face, black shirt
White socks, black shoes
Black hair, white Strat
Bled white, died black
Sweet Gene Vincent
Let the blue roll tonight
At the sock hop ball in the Union Hall
Where the bop is their delight
Here come duck-tailed Danny
Dragging Uncanny Annie
She's the one with the flying feet
You can break the peace
Daddy sickle grease
The beat is reet complete
And you jump back, honey
In the dungerees
Tight sweater and a pony tail
Will you guess her age
When she comes back stage?
The hoodlums bite their nails
Black gloves, white frost
Black crepe, white lead
White sheet, black knight
Jet black, dead white
Sweet Gene Vincent
There's one in every town
And the devil drives
Till the hearse arrives
And you lay that pistol down
Sweet Gene Vincent
There's nowhere left to hide
With lazy skin and ash tray eyes
A perforated pride
So farewell mademoiselle,
Knickerbocker Hotel
Farewell to money owed
But when your leg still hurts
And you need more shirts
You got to get back on the road
Skinny white sailor,
The chances were slender
The beauties were brief
Shall I mourn your decline
With some Thunderbird wine
And a black handkerchief?
I miss your sad Virginia whisper
I miss the voice that called my heart
Sweet Gene Vincent
Young and old and gone
Sweet Gene Vincent
Who, who, who slapped John?
White face, black shirt
White socks, black shoes
Black hair, white Strat
Bled white, died black
Sweet Gene Vincent
Let the blue roll tonight
At the sock hop ball in the Union Hall
Where the bop is their delight
Here come duck-tailed Danny
Dragging Uncanny Annie
She's the one with the flying feet
You can break the peace
Daddy sickle grease
The beat is reet complete
And you jump back, honey
In the dungerees
Tight sweater and a pony tail
Will you guess her age
When she comes back stage?
The hoodlums bite their nails
Black gloves, white frost
Black crepe, white lead
White sheet, black knight
Jet black, dead white
Sweet Gene Vincent
There's one in every town
And the devil drives
Till the hearse arrives
And you lay that pistol down
Sweet Gene Vincent
There's nowhere left to hide
With lazy skin and ash tray eyes
A perforated pride
So farewell mademoiselle,
Knickerbocker Hotel
Farewell to money owed
But when your leg still hurts
And you need more shirts
You got to get back on the road
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Sweet Gene Vincent Lyrics as written by Ian Robins Dury Charles Jeremy Jankel
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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