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.
Swamp juice drifted up the stairs as Leo washed his hair in soap
and turned into a lion - well it's what the mirror told him
Liked his burgers raw, and makeup red, he shakes his head,
the hair just tumbles down, he's in the jungle now and hungry,
looking for an arm to chew on, Tarzan shouting from a poster on the wall,
"Here's the rope take the world on."
So he tiptoed to the balcony and he swung across the street as buses dodged
and shoppers watched. And though he plowed into a window, Leo's shouting
from a rooftop, "I'm King, King of all the Jungle!" But they bundled him
away. Away... Away...
Now he spends his days talking to the wall of his cell
It's padded, smells of ether. Nurse's smile is sweeter than a can of jungle juice.
They pat him on his mane, and he purrs, how he purrs, how he purrs...
Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow!
(How he purrs, how he purrs, meow!)
One two three four five six seven: all good kittens go to heaven
One two three four five six seven: all good kittens go to heaven
One two three four five six seven: all good kittens go to heaven
One two three four five six seven: all good kittens go to heaven
One two three four five six seven: all good kittens go to heaven
One two three four five six seven: all good kittens go to heaven!
One two three four five six seven: all good kittens go to heaven
One two three four five six seven -
Meow! Meow! Meow!
Meow!
and turned into a lion - well it's what the mirror told him
Liked his burgers raw, and makeup red, he shakes his head,
the hair just tumbles down, he's in the jungle now and hungry,
looking for an arm to chew on, Tarzan shouting from a poster on the wall,
"Here's the rope take the world on."
So he tiptoed to the balcony and he swung across the street as buses dodged
and shoppers watched. And though he plowed into a window, Leo's shouting
from a rooftop, "I'm King, King of all the Jungle!" But they bundled him
away. Away... Away...
Now he spends his days talking to the wall of his cell
It's padded, smells of ether. Nurse's smile is sweeter than a can of jungle juice.
They pat him on his mane, and he purrs, how he purrs, how he purrs...
Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow! Meow!
(How he purrs, how he purrs, meow!)
One two three four five six seven: all good kittens go to heaven
One two three four five six seven: all good kittens go to heaven
One two three four five six seven: all good kittens go to heaven
One two three four five six seven: all good kittens go to heaven
One two three four five six seven: all good kittens go to heaven
One two three four five six seven: all good kittens go to heaven!
One two three four five six seven: all good kittens go to heaven
One two three four five six seven -
Meow! Meow! Meow!
Meow!
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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