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.
Moses come ridin' up on a quasar
His spurs were jingling, the door was ajar
His buckle was silver, his manner was bold
And I asked him to come in out of the cold
His brain was boiling, his reason was spent
His motto is nothing is borrowed, nothing is lent
He ask me for mercy, I gave him a gun
He said these things just got to be done
Abraham and Isaac sitting on a fence
You'd get right to work if you had any sense
You know the one thing we need is a left-hand monkey wrench
Gideon come up with his eyes on the floor
Said "you ain't got a hinge, you can't close the door"
Moses stood up above his six foot and ten
Said "you can't close the door when the wall's caved in"
Ask him for water, he poured me some wine
We finished the bottle and broke into mine
You get what you come for, ya ready to go
Well, it's one in ten thousand that come for the show
Abraham and Isaac diggin' on a well
Mama came quick with the water witch spell
Well cool clear water well you can't ever tell
Abraham and Isaac sitting on a fence
You'd get right to work if you had any sense
You know the one thing we need is a left-hand monkey wrench
His spurs were jingling, the door was ajar
His buckle was silver, his manner was bold
And I asked him to come in out of the cold
His brain was boiling, his reason was spent
His motto is nothing is borrowed, nothing is lent
He ask me for mercy, I gave him a gun
He said these things just got to be done
Abraham and Isaac sitting on a fence
You'd get right to work if you had any sense
You know the one thing we need is a left-hand monkey wrench
Gideon come up with his eyes on the floor
Said "you ain't got a hinge, you can't close the door"
Moses stood up above his six foot and ten
Said "you can't close the door when the wall's caved in"
Ask him for water, he poured me some wine
We finished the bottle and broke into mine
You get what you come for, ya ready to go
Well, it's one in ten thousand that come for the show
Abraham and Isaac diggin' on a well
Mama came quick with the water witch spell
Well cool clear water well you can't ever tell
Abraham and Isaac sitting on a fence
You'd get right to work if you had any sense
You know the one thing we need is a left-hand monkey wrench
Lyrics submitted by itsmyownmind, edited by aurora borealis
Greatest Story Ever Told Lyrics as written by Robert C. Hunter Michael S. Hart
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I love the story behind this song... if you have a chance to listen to the Grateful Dead Radio hour, episode #500, Bobby and Mickey tell the story of how this song originated from a water pump that Mickey had in his house... they would listen to the rhythm that it made and formed a guitar lick to the rhythm. It's a very interesting clip... here is the link:
dead.net/features/grateful-dead-hour-no-500
(scroll to the bottom to listen to the show)