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.
It didn't feel like Sunday
It didn't feel like June
When he met his silent partner
In that lonely corner room
That overlooked the marquee
Of the plaza all-adult
And he was not lookin' for romance
Just someone he could trust
And it wasn't no way to carry on
It wasn't no way to live
But he could up with it for a little while
He was workin' on something big
Speed ball rang the night desk
Said "send me up a drink"
The night clerk said "It's Sunday man...
Wait a minute, let me think
There' a little place outside of town
Might still have some wine"
Speed ball said "forget it man
Can I have an outside line?"
And it wasn't no way to carry on
It wasn't no way to live
But he could up with it for a little while
He was workin' on something big
It was Monday when the day maids
Found the still made bed
All except the pillows
That lay stacked up
At the head
And one said "I know
I've seen his face
I wonder who he is"
The other said "probably
Just another clown
Working on something big"
And it wasn't no way to carry on
It wasn't no way to live
But he could up with it for a little while
He was workin' on something big
It didn't feel like June
When he met his silent partner
In that lonely corner room
That overlooked the marquee
Of the plaza all-adult
And he was not lookin' for romance
Just someone he could trust
And it wasn't no way to carry on
It wasn't no way to live
But he could up with it for a little while
He was workin' on something big
Speed ball rang the night desk
Said "send me up a drink"
The night clerk said "It's Sunday man...
Wait a minute, let me think
There' a little place outside of town
Might still have some wine"
Speed ball said "forget it man
Can I have an outside line?"
And it wasn't no way to carry on
It wasn't no way to live
But he could up with it for a little while
He was workin' on something big
It was Monday when the day maids
Found the still made bed
All except the pillows
That lay stacked up
At the head
And one said "I know
I've seen his face
I wonder who he is"
The other said "probably
Just another clown
Working on something big"
And it wasn't no way to carry on
It wasn't no way to live
But he could up with it for a little while
He was workin' on something big
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No comments???!! My favorite Heartbreakers album. What can I say besides the guy was being low profile and died in the end? Some high risk high reward deal. He wanted a drink and the hotel could not have been that bad if they offer room service late at night.
Adding a comment just because it deserves one. A lot of people in the USA are trying to make money the quick and easy way, usually its also dangerous. When people know they are about to make a danger move, they usually want a drink. Silent partner (in American Film especially) usually means a shady dealer or hitman, and is usually indicative of (because nobody spoke) a double cross. In this case, the man is double-crossed by his visitor. Looking for someone he could trust implies that there are very few that he can trust, so most likely at a motel in hiding.
This is a very common thing you see in the news, people think they can make it big by selling guns or drugs on the street (because they see others doing it, or they see it in movies), then others think they can make it big by not paying for them and turning 100% profit. In these cases, usually that means killing the middleman. Drugs (Especially Speed) cloud your judgement and cause you to get tunnel vision, only seeing the ends, not the means. An unmade bed means this guy didn't sleep, so he was probably on speed or some other Upper (which is probably why he wanted a drink, so he could come down a bit).
There's a pretty good film noir script here waiting to be filmed.