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.
Frank zappa (lead guitar, vocals)
Elliot ingber (rhythm guitar)
Roy estrada (bass)
Jimmy carl black (drums)
Ray collins (tambourine)
The kids are freaking out
Everybody's goin' nuts
The heats out every night
To call up names and kick their butts
But everytime you turn around
You'll see some joker staring back
He's got a secret tape recorder
And a camera in a sack
Pretending that he's just another
Of the kiddies freaking out
But they pay him off in acid
'cause he's a downtown talent scout
He's got your name
And he's got your face
He's got your ex-old lady's place
He's here to see what's goin down
And they don't believe the things he's found
The badges gleam and the minors scream
When he pulls on the scene
They got no warrants in their pockets
But that badge makes them supreme
You kids are smoking dandelions
You're sniffing paper bags baby
You're dropping good n' plenties
We can tell your posture sags
Now line up here against the wall
Your bodies frail and thin
And open up your pockets
While we dump the evidence in
Well they know that smoking flowers
Won't win a case in court
And they know that good n' plenties
Aren't the psychedelic sort
But they tear your place apart
Because they simply couldn't pass
A chance to drag some freaks downtown
For smoking devil grass
Well you never get your day in court
The food downtown is foul
The day of trial you nearly die
With maggots in your bowel
But modern law and justice
Has advanced to such a point
That a jury trial is useless
They simply take you to the joint
Cause after all you look so freaky
How could anyone believe
That what you think and what you feel
Comes close at all to what is real
Blow your harmonica son
Elliot ingber (rhythm guitar)
Roy estrada (bass)
Jimmy carl black (drums)
Ray collins (tambourine)
The kids are freaking out
Everybody's goin' nuts
The heats out every night
To call up names and kick their butts
But everytime you turn around
You'll see some joker staring back
He's got a secret tape recorder
And a camera in a sack
Pretending that he's just another
Of the kiddies freaking out
But they pay him off in acid
'cause he's a downtown talent scout
He's got your name
And he's got your face
He's got your ex-old lady's place
He's here to see what's goin down
And they don't believe the things he's found
The badges gleam and the minors scream
When he pulls on the scene
They got no warrants in their pockets
But that badge makes them supreme
You kids are smoking dandelions
You're sniffing paper bags baby
You're dropping good n' plenties
We can tell your posture sags
Now line up here against the wall
Your bodies frail and thin
And open up your pockets
While we dump the evidence in
Well they know that smoking flowers
Won't win a case in court
And they know that good n' plenties
Aren't the psychedelic sort
But they tear your place apart
Because they simply couldn't pass
A chance to drag some freaks downtown
For smoking devil grass
Well you never get your day in court
The food downtown is foul
The day of trial you nearly die
With maggots in your bowel
But modern law and justice
Has advanced to such a point
That a jury trial is useless
They simply take you to the joint
Cause after all you look so freaky
How could anyone believe
That what you think and what you feel
Comes close at all to what is real
Blow your harmonica son
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
The Downtown Talent Scout Lyrics as written by Frank Vincent Zappa
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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