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.
An angel on a Harley
Pulls across to greet a fellow rolling stone
Puts his bike up on it's stand
Leans back and then extends a scarred and greasy hand
He said
"How ya doin bro? Where ya been? Where ya goin'?"
Then he takes your hand in some strange Californian handshake
And breaks the bone (have a nice day)
A housewife from Encino
Whose husband's on the golf course
With his book of rules
Breaks and makes a 'U' and idles back
To take a second look at you
(You flex your rod) You flex your rod
Fish takes the hook
Sweet vodka and tobacco in her breath
Another number in your little black book
These are the pros and cons of hitchhiking
These are the pros and cons of hitchhiking
Oh babe, I must be dreaming
I was standing on the leading edge
The Eastern seaboard spread before my eyes
"Jump" says Yoko Ono
"I'm too scared and too good looking", I cried
"Go on", she says
"Why don't you give it a try?
Why prolong the agony? All men must die"
Do you remember Dick Tracy?
Do you remember Shane?
(And mother wants you)
Could you see him selling tickets where the buzzard circles over
(Shane)
The body on the plain
Did you understand the music, Yoko, or was it all in vain?
(Shane)
The bitch said something mystical
So I stepped back on the curb again
These are the pros and cons of hitchhiking
These are the pros and cons of hitchhiking
Oh babe, I must be dreaming again
These are the pros and cons of hitchhiking
These are the pros and cons of hitchhiking
These are the pros and cons of hitchhiking
These are the pros and cons of hitchhiking
Pulls across to greet a fellow rolling stone
Puts his bike up on it's stand
Leans back and then extends a scarred and greasy hand
He said
"How ya doin bro? Where ya been? Where ya goin'?"
Then he takes your hand in some strange Californian handshake
And breaks the bone (have a nice day)
A housewife from Encino
Whose husband's on the golf course
With his book of rules
Breaks and makes a 'U' and idles back
To take a second look at you
(You flex your rod) You flex your rod
Fish takes the hook
Sweet vodka and tobacco in her breath
Another number in your little black book
These are the pros and cons of hitchhiking
These are the pros and cons of hitchhiking
Oh babe, I must be dreaming
I was standing on the leading edge
The Eastern seaboard spread before my eyes
"Jump" says Yoko Ono
"I'm too scared and too good looking", I cried
"Go on", she says
"Why don't you give it a try?
Why prolong the agony? All men must die"
Do you remember Dick Tracy?
Do you remember Shane?
(And mother wants you)
Could you see him selling tickets where the buzzard circles over
(Shane)
The body on the plain
Did you understand the music, Yoko, or was it all in vain?
(Shane)
The bitch said something mystical
So I stepped back on the curb again
These are the pros and cons of hitchhiking
These are the pros and cons of hitchhiking
Oh babe, I must be dreaming again
These are the pros and cons of hitchhiking
These are the pros and cons of hitchhiking
These are the pros and cons of hitchhiking
These are the pros and cons of hitchhiking
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Great version of a great song,
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Im not entirely sure what this means. its a top song though..i think its just another one of his dreams.