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.
Dennis, the menace, he's a bundle of dynamite
Oh, the things he says and the things he does
Will make you shake with fright
(Beware of) Dennis the menace
Oh, you'd better be on your toes
There is bound to be a calamity no matter where he goes
His mom and dad get nervous
Whenever he's too quiet
They never know what will happen next
A cyclone, flood or rot
Dennis the menace, though he makes your hair turn gray
When he looks at you with those eyes of blue
He'll steal your hear away
Last night I got a spanking
I don't know what to think
'Cause all I did was fill my water pistol full of ink
Now I ask you did mommy have to yell at me like that
Just because I watered all those flowers on her hat
My daddy love to ride in planes
'Way high up in the sky
He didn't see my roller skates
And oh boy, did he fly
We were playing train with daddy's chair
Me and another kid
My daddy said, "now, break it up"
So that's just what we did
Dennis, the menace, he's a bundle of dynamite
Oh, the things he says and the things he does
Will make you shake with fright
(Beware of) Dennis the menace
Oh, the things he says and the things he does
Will make you shake with fright
(Beware of) Dennis the menace
Oh, you'd better be on your toes
There is bound to be a calamity no matter where he goes
His mom and dad get nervous
Whenever he's too quiet
They never know what will happen next
A cyclone, flood or rot
Dennis the menace, though he makes your hair turn gray
When he looks at you with those eyes of blue
He'll steal your hear away
Last night I got a spanking
I don't know what to think
'Cause all I did was fill my water pistol full of ink
Now I ask you did mommy have to yell at me like that
Just because I watered all those flowers on her hat
My daddy love to ride in planes
'Way high up in the sky
He didn't see my roller skates
And oh boy, did he fly
We were playing train with daddy's chair
Me and another kid
My daddy said, "now, break it up"
So that's just what we did
Dennis, the menace, he's a bundle of dynamite
Oh, the things he says and the things he does
Will make you shake with fright
(Beware of) Dennis the menace
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Dennis the Menace Lyrics as written by Dick Manning Al Hoffman
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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