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're so hot, teasing me
So you're blue
but I can't take a chance on a chick like you
That's something I couldn't do
There's that look in your eyes
I can read in your face
that your feelings are driving you wild
Ah, but girl you're only a child
Well I can dance with you honey
If you think it's funny
Does your mother know that you're out
And I can chat with you baby
Flirt a little maybe
Does your mother know that you're out
Take it easy (take it easy)
Better slow down girl
That's no way to go
Does your mother know?
Take it easy (take it easy)
Try to cool it girl
Take it nice and slow
Does your mother know?
I can see what you want
But you seem pretty young
to be searching for that kind of fun
So maybe I'm not the one
Now you're so cute, I like your style
And I know what you mean
when you give me a flash of that smile (smile)
But girl you're only a child
Well I can dance with you honey
If you think it's funny
Does your mother know that you're out
And I can chat with you baby
Flirt a little maybe
Does your mother know that you're out
Take it easy (take it easy)
Better slow down girl
That's no way to go
Does your mother know
Take it easy (take it easy)
Try to cool it girl
Take it nice and slow
Does your mother know
Well I can dance with you honey
If you think it's funny
Does your mother know that you're out
And I can chat with you baby
Flirt a little maybe
Does your mother know that you're out
Well I can dance with you honey
If you think it's funny
Does your mother know that you're out
And I can chat with you baby
Flirt a little maybe
Does your mother know that you're out
Well I can dance with you honey
If you think it's funny
Does your mother know that you're out
And I can chat with you baby
So you're blue
but I can't take a chance on a chick like you
That's something I couldn't do
There's that look in your eyes
I can read in your face
that your feelings are driving you wild
Ah, but girl you're only a child
Well I can dance with you honey
If you think it's funny
Does your mother know that you're out
And I can chat with you baby
Flirt a little maybe
Does your mother know that you're out
Take it easy (take it easy)
Better slow down girl
That's no way to go
Does your mother know?
Take it easy (take it easy)
Try to cool it girl
Take it nice and slow
Does your mother know?
I can see what you want
But you seem pretty young
to be searching for that kind of fun
So maybe I'm not the one
Now you're so cute, I like your style
And I know what you mean
when you give me a flash of that smile (smile)
But girl you're only a child
Well I can dance with you honey
If you think it's funny
Does your mother know that you're out
And I can chat with you baby
Flirt a little maybe
Does your mother know that you're out
Take it easy (take it easy)
Better slow down girl
That's no way to go
Does your mother know
Take it easy (take it easy)
Try to cool it girl
Take it nice and slow
Does your mother know
Well I can dance with you honey
If you think it's funny
Does your mother know that you're out
And I can chat with you baby
Flirt a little maybe
Does your mother know that you're out
Well I can dance with you honey
If you think it's funny
Does your mother know that you're out
And I can chat with you baby
Flirt a little maybe
Does your mother know that you're out
Well I can dance with you honey
If you think it's funny
Does your mother know that you're out
And I can chat with you baby
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae
Does Your Mother Know Lyrics as written by Bjoern K. Ulvaeus Benny Goran Bror Andersson
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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a young girl goes to a disco looking for a mate for the night. She spots Bjorn, and he is willing to flirt, but no more, since she is under age
I like how even though song has a modern (well i mean for it's time..a haha) sound/style and all.. the chorus has a bit of 50's rock 'n' roll influence too. that intro and the (faint) sax in the chorus make me love this song.
@modestmaus That's right! It is just clasiic r'n'r in disco suond "sauce".
I love this song to pieces.
And yeah, the first time I heard it was in Johnny English. Seeing Rowan Atkinson dancing to it just made my day.
Yep...and now it's my favourite ABBA song.
This is my favourite ABBA song. I was about 16 when it came out and the beat was great at the disco's. The rumble with drums at the very beginning filled the floor immediately.
In the movie "MAma Mia", there is a scene with a teenage boy who has a crush on a middle-aged woman. The woman sings this song at the boy. It's done for laughs.
That's one of my favorite scenes in the movie!<br /> I was watching that movie just the other day, which is why I searched up the lyrics. I was kinda surprised to see the lyrics the opposite, where the guy is older singing to the significantly younger girl.<br /> =)
@amymonkey the lad’s name is Pepper (he’s the barman) and the woman’s name is Tanya (she’s Donna’s best friend). Love is love. At age 18, I dated a 55-year-young lass.
I used to go to dances in the late 70's, and young girls were like that. Being over 21 I had to not fall for them. Like it says " Does your mother know" I did take one lady home to meet her mother, only to find she knew my uncle!!
"This is my favourite ABBA song. I was about 16 when it came out and the beat was great at the disco's."
I was about 16 when the film Johnny English came out with this song on the soundtrack. (I'm a huge Rowan Atkinson fan.) I immediately searched the internet and found the title of this, my favorite ABBA song. I've been an ABBA fan ever since.
i love rowan atkinson :) that is like my favourite film ever!
My favorite ABBA song too. Does Swedish law prohibit relations between +18 and under-18 year olds, like in the USA? "You seem pretty young to be searching for that kind of fun"
The age of consent is 15 in Sweden, in some states as well as in Canada it's 16 not 18. Which in my opinion makes more sense. But I'm pretty sure this song is not about statutory rape, it's just that the guy thinks the girl is too immature for a relationship.
@descendent any age is aight for love. The Svenska law (also the Yankee law) only forbid sex under such-and-such age.
I know that this is NOT what the song is about at all, but I always personally interpreted it as this:
Every post-2001 gay guy has had the experience, especially in high school, of the straight guys making fun of them by not being mean, but by pretending that they're gay to get a reaction out of the guy and make his own friends laugh. Of course, most gay guys are smart enough to see through this charade and walk away, but I always see this song as the gay affirming his stance of never going out with someone who isn't "out" (ergo "does your mother know that you're out?") Haha. I know, it's weird, but it's just my little spin :)
And yeah, I absolutely love this song. I cannot help singing and dancing along whenever it comes on and it is currently my favourite song of all time.
I was already an ABBA fan, but I had never heard this song before my roommate showed me that hilarious bit from Johnny English. I immediately recognized their sound, though, and promptly went searching for it online afterwards.
I really like the way there's like two different (and very different-sounding) refrains - the rockin' "You can dance with me honey" followed by the oddly chirpy little "Take it easy" bit. The contrast between them is weird - it shouldn't work, but it does, and gives this song a unique character that makes it one of their more distinctive tunes. The killer bass riff doesn't hurt, either.