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.
On his arm is that charm around her neck
Strung out again call in some friends
Trying to cash a check cause
I've been dumb that's what you've come to expect
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
She's wearing your clothes
Head down to toe and the auction of you
You said you know what he did to idiot kid
Who don't have a clue
Sometimes they just caught in the eye
Am pulling them through
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Now on the bus nearly touching this dirty retreat
Falling out six inch pallet
There's sweat in my teeth
I'm gonna walk walk walk four more blocks
Cause the one in my brain
Chow downstairs see the man
He's gonna make it all look gay
I can't be myself I can't be myself
And I don't want to talk taking a cure
So I can be quiet wherever I want
So leave me alone you oughta be proud
That I'm getting these marks
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Strung out again call in some friends
Trying to cash a check cause
I've been dumb that's what you've come to expect
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
She's wearing your clothes
Head down to toe and the auction of you
You said you know what he did to idiot kid
Who don't have a clue
Sometimes they just caught in the eye
Am pulling them through
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Now on the bus nearly touching this dirty retreat
Falling out six inch pallet
There's sweat in my teeth
I'm gonna walk walk walk four more blocks
Cause the one in my brain
Chow downstairs see the man
He's gonna make it all look gay
I can't be myself I can't be myself
And I don't want to talk taking a cure
So I can be quiet wherever I want
So leave me alone you oughta be proud
That I'm getting these marks
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
Needle in the hay
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those lyrics are wrong
your hand on his arm haystack charm around your neck strung out and thin callin some friend tryin to cash some check he's acting dumb that's what you've come to expect needle in the hay, needle in the hay, needle in the hay, needle i the hay
he's wearing your clothes head down to toes a reaction to you you say you know what he did, but you idiot kid you don't have a clue sometimes they just get caught in the eye, you're pullin him thru needle in the hay, needle in the hay, needle in the hay, needle in the hay
now on the bus nearly touching this dirty retreat fallin out, 6th and powell, a dead sweat i my teeth gonna walk walk walk, 4 more blocks plus the one in my brain down downstairs, to the man he's gonna make it all ok i can't be myself, i can't be myself, and i don't wanna talk i'm taking the cure so i can be quiet wherever i want so leave me alone you aught to be proud that i'm getting good marks