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 THE CORNER OF 5TH AND MAIN
BY AN OLD RIVERBED AND A RAILROAD TRAIN
THERE'S A SHOP NEAR THE TRACK
THE OWNER WORKS IN THE BACK
HE'S GOT A HOLE IN HIS SHIRT, A HOLE IN HIS SHOE
HE WALKS AROUND WITHOUT A WHOLE LOT TO DO
HE'S GOT NO CAR, HE'S GOT NO CLOTHES
DOES WHAT HE DOES
AND THAT'S ALL HE KNOWS
COZ HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
FOR AT LEAST TEN YEARS AND A DAY
HE'S BEEN GOING IN AND OUT OF HIS WAY
TO GIVE WHAT HE'S GOT
THE LORD KNOWS HE GIVES A LOT
WITH HIS FORTUNE MADE AND MONEY DOWN
THE GIFTS HE GIVES ARE ALL OVER TOWN
ON HIS FACE A BEAUTIFUL SMILE
HE'S SENDING OUT ALL THE WHILE
COZ HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
HIS CHILDREN GREW UP AND HE GREW OLD
HIS HANDS GOT SHAKEY AND HIS SHOP GOT SOLD
NOW MANY LIES AND THE STORY'S BEEN TOLD
THERE AIN'T NOTHING LEFT BUT A DONUT HOLE
COZ HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
DONUT MAN
DONUT MAN
DONUT MAN
BY AN OLD RIVERBED AND A RAILROAD TRAIN
THERE'S A SHOP NEAR THE TRACK
THE OWNER WORKS IN THE BACK
HE'S GOT A HOLE IN HIS SHIRT, A HOLE IN HIS SHOE
HE WALKS AROUND WITHOUT A WHOLE LOT TO DO
HE'S GOT NO CAR, HE'S GOT NO CLOTHES
DOES WHAT HE DOES
AND THAT'S ALL HE KNOWS
COZ HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
FOR AT LEAST TEN YEARS AND A DAY
HE'S BEEN GOING IN AND OUT OF HIS WAY
TO GIVE WHAT HE'S GOT
THE LORD KNOWS HE GIVES A LOT
WITH HIS FORTUNE MADE AND MONEY DOWN
THE GIFTS HE GIVES ARE ALL OVER TOWN
ON HIS FACE A BEAUTIFUL SMILE
HE'S SENDING OUT ALL THE WHILE
COZ HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
HIS CHILDREN GREW UP AND HE GREW OLD
HIS HANDS GOT SHAKEY AND HIS SHOP GOT SOLD
NOW MANY LIES AND THE STORY'S BEEN TOLD
THERE AIN'T NOTHING LEFT BUT A DONUT HOLE
COZ HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
HE'S A DONUT MAN
HE'S DOIN' WHAT HE CAN
HE'S HAPPY EVERY DAY
HE'S GOT NOTHIN' TO LOSE
HE'S FOUND HIS WAY
DONUT MAN
DONUT MAN
DONUT MAN
Lyrics submitted by hovergun
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
Plastic Bag
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Plastic Bag” is a song about searching for an escape from personal problems and hoping to find it in the lively atmosphere of a Saturday night party. Ed Sheeran tells the story of his friend and the myriad of troubles he is going through. Unable to find any solutions, this friend seeks a last resort in a party and the vanity that comes with it.
“I overthink and have trouble sleepin’ / All purpose gone and don’t have a reason / And there’s no doctor to stop this bleedin’ / So I left home and jumped in the deep end,” Ed Sheeran sings in verse one. He continues by adding that this person is feeling the weight of having disappointed his father and doesn’t have any friends to rely on in this difficult moment. In the second verse, Ed sings about the role of grief in his friend’s plight and his dwindling faith in prayer. “Saturday night is givin’ me a reason to rely on the strobe lights / The lifeline of a promise in a shot glass, and I’ll take that / If you’re givin’ out love from a plastic bag,” Ed sings on the chorus, as his friend turns to new vices in hopes of feeling better.
DOnt call blacklungfever a ervert that was fucking funny