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.
You'd beg if I was under your hood
But it ain't doing us any good
Rolling through town and going too slow
What we need is an open road
400 horses need a little room to run
Well if you ain't gonna do it let me show you how it's done
Drive it like it's stolen, park like it's rented
What's the point of money if you ain't gonna spend it?
There's a reason roads go past the city limits
Do you wanna drive? Come on, you can ride shotgun
Shotgun
Traffic jam as I'm sitting by, old man holding that same old sign
Tell me that the end is near but they've been saying that 100 years
But what if he's right, baby?
Maybe this time it's true
And we got nothing to lose
Drive it like it's stolen, park like it's rented
What's the point of money if you ain't gonna spend it?
There's a reason roads go past the city limits
Do you wanna drive? Then baby you can ride shotgun
Shotgun
We gotta drive it like it's stolen, park like it's rented
What good is your money if you ain't gonna spend it?
There's a reason roads go past the city limits
If you ain't gonna drive then baby come on, ride shotgun
Drive it like it's stolen, park like it's rented (Shotgun)
What's the point of money if you ain't gonna spend it?
There's a reason roads go past the city limits
If you ain't gonna drive then baby you can ride shotgun
Shotgun
Shotgun
But it ain't doing us any good
Rolling through town and going too slow
What we need is an open road
400 horses need a little room to run
Well if you ain't gonna do it let me show you how it's done
Drive it like it's stolen, park like it's rented
What's the point of money if you ain't gonna spend it?
There's a reason roads go past the city limits
Do you wanna drive? Come on, you can ride shotgun
Shotgun
Traffic jam as I'm sitting by, old man holding that same old sign
Tell me that the end is near but they've been saying that 100 years
But what if he's right, baby?
Maybe this time it's true
And we got nothing to lose
Drive it like it's stolen, park like it's rented
What's the point of money if you ain't gonna spend it?
There's a reason roads go past the city limits
Do you wanna drive? Then baby you can ride shotgun
Shotgun
We gotta drive it like it's stolen, park like it's rented
What good is your money if you ain't gonna spend it?
There's a reason roads go past the city limits
If you ain't gonna drive then baby come on, ride shotgun
Drive it like it's stolen, park like it's rented (Shotgun)
What's the point of money if you ain't gonna spend it?
There's a reason roads go past the city limits
If you ain't gonna drive then baby you can ride shotgun
Shotgun
Shotgun
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Shotgun Lyrics as written by John Shanks Chris Dubois
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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