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.
Streetlife serenader
Never sang on stages
Needs no orchestration
Melody comes easy
Midnight masquerader
Shoppin' center heroes
Child of Eisenhower
New world celebrator
Streetlife serenaders
Have such understanding
How the words are spoken
How to make the motions
Streetlife serenaders
Have no obligations
Hold no grand illusions
Need no stimulation
Midnight masqueraders
Workin' hard for wages
Need no vast arrangements
To do their harmonizing
Never sang on stages
Needs no orchestration
Melody comes easy
Midnight masquerader
Shoppin' center heroes
Child of Eisenhower
New world celebrator
Streetlife serenaders
Have such understanding
How the words are spoken
How to make the motions
Streetlife serenaders
Have no obligations
Hold no grand illusions
Need no stimulation
Midnight masqueraders
Workin' hard for wages
Need no vast arrangements
To do their harmonizing
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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This song is about a "poor" person that must live on the street but plays music to earn tips to survive on.
Never sang on stages
Melody comes easy
Have no obligations Hold no grand illusions Need no stimulation Need no vast arrangement To do their harmonizing
Trobadours in the ancient times in Europe, Circus people, Blind chanteurs travelling around the villages singing free and easy to earn daily bread, held no grand illusions... but had no obligations. Music... Melody came easy.
To me this is a song about MUSIC. Music is a somebody playing a melody and somebody listening. That's it. Then comes money and business to complicate things. But Music really is cheap and simple and lives almost anywhere, in the singing lullaby of a mother, in a Mall, where a Shoppin' center hero, Child of Eisenhower is performing live for you, and for daily bread. No sorrow here.
this song in my mind is about the "little man." the guy/girl who works hard and has a lot of talent as a singer/songwriter but never becomes a 'Big' artist. they dont have a lot of hope b/c they've been turned down so many times but still play because they love playing. one of billy joel's best songs by far.