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.
Comb your hair and paint and powder
You act proud and I'll act prouder
You sing loud and I'll sing louder
Tonight we're setting the woods on fire
You my gal and I'm your feller
Dress up in your frock of yeller
You'll look swell honey, but I'll look sweller
Setting the woods on fire
We'll take in all the honky tonks
Tonight we're having fun
I'll show the folks a brand new dance
That never has been done
Hey, look a here baby
Everything is fine
Gonna sip up a little of wine
Gonna make a little doggone time
Setting the woods on fire
You'll gas up my hot rod stocker
We'll get hotter than a poker
I'll be broke and you'll be broker
Tonight we're setting the woods on fire
We'll sit close to one another
Up the one street and down the other
We'll have a time o brother
Setting the woods on fire
We'll set aside a little time
To fix a flat or two
My tires and tubes are doing fine
But the air is showing through
We'll sit close to one another
Up the one street and down the other
We'll have a time o brother
Setting the woods on fire
You act proud and I'll act prouder
You sing loud and I'll sing louder
Tonight we're setting the woods on fire
You my gal and I'm your feller
Dress up in your frock of yeller
You'll look swell honey, but I'll look sweller
Setting the woods on fire
We'll take in all the honky tonks
Tonight we're having fun
I'll show the folks a brand new dance
That never has been done
Hey, look a here baby
Everything is fine
Gonna sip up a little of wine
Gonna make a little doggone time
Setting the woods on fire
You'll gas up my hot rod stocker
We'll get hotter than a poker
I'll be broke and you'll be broker
Tonight we're setting the woods on fire
We'll sit close to one another
Up the one street and down the other
We'll have a time o brother
Setting the woods on fire
We'll set aside a little time
To fix a flat or two
My tires and tubes are doing fine
But the air is showing through
We'll sit close to one another
Up the one street and down the other
We'll have a time o brother
Setting the woods on fire
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Settin' the Woods On Fire Lyrics as written by Ed Sr. Nelson Fred Rose
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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