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.
Honey don't walk out, I'm too drunk to follow
You know you won't feel this way tomorrow
Well, maybe a little rough around the edges
Or inside, a little hollow
Yeah, I get faced with some things, sometimes
That are so hard to swallow, hey (hey, hey, hey)
I was born a rebel, down in Dixie (hey, hey, hey)
On a Sunday mornin'
Yeah with one foot in the grave
And one foot on the pedal, I was born a rebel
I was born a rebel
Yeah, she picked me up in the mornin', and she paid all my tickets
Then she screamed in the car
Left me out in the thicket
Well I never woulda' dreamed
That her heart was so wicked
Yeah, but I keep comin' back
'Cause it's so hard to kick it, hey, hey, hey (hey, hey, hey)
I was born a rebel, down in Dixie (hey, hey, hey)
On a Sunday mornin'
Yeah, with one foot in the grave
And one foot on the pedal, I was born a rebel
I was born a rebel
Even before my father's father
They called us all rebels
As they burned our cornfields
And left our cities leveled
I can still feel the eyes of those blue-bellied devils
Yeah, when I'm walking 'round at night
Through the concrete and metal, hey, hey, hey (hey, hey, hey)
I was born a rebel, down in Dixie (hey, hey, hey)
On a Sunday mornin'
Yeah, with one foot in the grave
And one foot on the pedal, I was born a rebel
I was born a rebel
Hey, hey, hey (hey, hey, hey)
I was born a rebel, down in Dixie (hey, hey, hey)
On a Sunday mornin'
Yeah, with one foot in the grave
And one foot on the pedal, I was born a rebel
Born a rebel
Hey, hey, hey (hey, hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey (hey, hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey (hey, hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey (hey, hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey (hey, hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey (hey, hey, hey)
You know you won't feel this way tomorrow
Well, maybe a little rough around the edges
Or inside, a little hollow
Yeah, I get faced with some things, sometimes
That are so hard to swallow, hey (hey, hey, hey)
I was born a rebel, down in Dixie (hey, hey, hey)
On a Sunday mornin'
Yeah with one foot in the grave
And one foot on the pedal, I was born a rebel
I was born a rebel
Yeah, she picked me up in the mornin', and she paid all my tickets
Then she screamed in the car
Left me out in the thicket
Well I never woulda' dreamed
That her heart was so wicked
Yeah, but I keep comin' back
'Cause it's so hard to kick it, hey, hey, hey (hey, hey, hey)
I was born a rebel, down in Dixie (hey, hey, hey)
On a Sunday mornin'
Yeah, with one foot in the grave
And one foot on the pedal, I was born a rebel
I was born a rebel
Even before my father's father
They called us all rebels
As they burned our cornfields
And left our cities leveled
I can still feel the eyes of those blue-bellied devils
Yeah, when I'm walking 'round at night
Through the concrete and metal, hey, hey, hey (hey, hey, hey)
I was born a rebel, down in Dixie (hey, hey, hey)
On a Sunday mornin'
Yeah, with one foot in the grave
And one foot on the pedal, I was born a rebel
I was born a rebel
Hey, hey, hey (hey, hey, hey)
I was born a rebel, down in Dixie (hey, hey, hey)
On a Sunday mornin'
Yeah, with one foot in the grave
And one foot on the pedal, I was born a rebel
Born a rebel
Hey, hey, hey (hey, hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey (hey, hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey (hey, hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey (hey, hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey (hey, hey, hey)
Hey, hey, hey (hey, hey, hey)
Lyrics submitted by oofus, edited by Crystalline888
Rebels [Alternate Version, 1985] Lyrics as written by Tom Petty
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Gone Gator Music
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Tom really caught a lot of shit for this tune which I think is why he named his next LP Let Me Up I've Had Enough.
a really cool tune!
Good god I cannot believe there aren't more comments on this song, this is along with american girl and lonesome sundown my favorite Tom Petty song. I love how everything Tom Petty sings about is real, he's always been such a rebel, organizing fan protests against the big record conglomerates (the "$8.98"" album,some fans might know what I'm talking about, hah) and just rebelling to stand up for what he believes by any means necessary.
he is from gainsville florida could it be that hes from the south = rebel
This song is amazing. I think it's pretty self-explanatory though.
The man singing the song has an inferiority complex, at least partly because of what he feels is Yankees or anyone else not from the South looking down on Southerners and judging them lacking. Brings to mind the The saying "The South will rise again", which is probably meant to be defiant, but What does it say about the state of the South right now? (Only those who are "down" can rise).
For me, 'Rebels' brings to mind a few other songs: Sweet Home Alabama; Copperhead Road; The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down;