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 an old city bus in the streets of Hanoi
The people sit quiet except for one boy
He's humming and singing on a simple melody
He said this is a song about being free
In the city of Stockholm they're reclaiming the streets
Everybody's dancing and stomping their feet
One guy is shouting in a megaphone
He said this is ours and ours alone
Come on everybody sing with me
This is a song about being free
The days of submission won't last long
This is a freedom song
Oh, here it goes!
Rama lama ding dong ding dong
Rama lama ding dong (ding dong)
O.K. ckeck this out
A russian girl on a summer holiday
On a Greyhound bus through the U.S.A.
She said so this is how it feels like to be free
Well the weather is nice and there's so much to see
Come on everybody sing with me
This is a song about being free
Days of submission, oh no, won't last long
This is a freedom song
Oh, I gotta sing it!
Rama lama ding dong ding dong
Rama lama ding dong (ding dong)
Rama lama ding dong ding dong
Rama lama ding dong (ding dong)
In Kingston Jamaica & New York U.S.A.
Across the whole world people fighting for another way
Some of them sing and some of them write
Some work hard in the factories and some just stand up fight
Come on and sing it!
Rama lama ding dong ding dong
Rama lama ding dong (ding dong)
Rama lama ding dong ding dong
Rama lama ding dong (ding dong)
The people sit quiet except for one boy
He's humming and singing on a simple melody
He said this is a song about being free
In the city of Stockholm they're reclaiming the streets
Everybody's dancing and stomping their feet
One guy is shouting in a megaphone
He said this is ours and ours alone
Come on everybody sing with me
This is a song about being free
The days of submission won't last long
This is a freedom song
Oh, here it goes!
Rama lama ding dong ding dong
Rama lama ding dong (ding dong)
O.K. ckeck this out
A russian girl on a summer holiday
On a Greyhound bus through the U.S.A.
She said so this is how it feels like to be free
Well the weather is nice and there's so much to see
Come on everybody sing with me
This is a song about being free
Days of submission, oh no, won't last long
This is a freedom song
Oh, I gotta sing it!
Rama lama ding dong ding dong
Rama lama ding dong (ding dong)
Rama lama ding dong ding dong
Rama lama ding dong (ding dong)
In Kingston Jamaica & New York U.S.A.
Across the whole world people fighting for another way
Some of them sing and some of them write
Some work hard in the factories and some just stand up fight
Come on and sing it!
Rama lama ding dong ding dong
Rama lama ding dong (ding dong)
Rama lama ding dong ding dong
Rama lama ding dong (ding dong)
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I love this song... Geoff Rowley listens to this band....!? allegedly?