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.
White on white translucent black capes
Back on the rack
Bela Lugosi's dead
The bats have left the bell tower
The victims have been bled
Red velvet lines the black box
Bela Lugosi's dead
Bela Lugosi's dead
Undead, undead, undead
Undead, undead, undead
The virginal brides file past his tomb
Strewn with time's dead flowers
Bereft in deathly bloom
Alone in a darkened room
The count
Bela Lugosi's dead
Bela Lugosi's dead
Bela Lugosi's dead
Undead, undead, undead
Undead, undead, undead
Undead
Oh Bela
Bela's undead
Oh Bela
Bela's undead
Bela's undead
Oh Bela
Bela's undead
Oh Bela
Undead
Back on the rack
Bela Lugosi's dead
The bats have left the bell tower
The victims have been bled
Red velvet lines the black box
Bela Lugosi's dead
Bela Lugosi's dead
Undead, undead, undead
Undead, undead, undead
The virginal brides file past his tomb
Strewn with time's dead flowers
Bereft in deathly bloom
Alone in a darkened room
The count
Bela Lugosi's dead
Bela Lugosi's dead
Bela Lugosi's dead
Undead, undead, undead
Undead, undead, undead
Undead
Oh Bela
Bela's undead
Oh Bela
Bela's undead
Bela's undead
Oh Bela
Bela's undead
Oh Bela
Undead
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This song has a dual meaning.
It is actually a complaint about how the style had been commercialized, and how that scene was dying.
The kids back then were not called "Goth", they were called "Bat Cavers". The big club in London was The Bell Tower.
He says "White and white translucent black capes, back on the rack": He was saying the style had made it to the stores "on the rack".
"The Bats have left the Bell Tower": The club had closed earlier that year..
Believe me, I was there.
They stopped wearing Goth clothes after that record. For the most part.
@javad10211 Thanks for this insight
@javad10211 The first part seems like common sense, and I believe you "were there". But the rest doesn't quite add up. The actual Bat Cave club didn't open until 1982, but this record came out in 1979. Also, I'm not sure who you're saying stopped wearing goth clothes but it certainly wasn't Bauhaus: 'She's In Parties' didn't come out until 1983 and they still looked pretty... goth. The video is on YouTube for anyone to see. There are no shortage of 80s bands that cultivated the same image well after this song came out... The Sisters of Mercy didn't release 'First And Last And Always' until 1985 and that's widely considered to be one of the most formative goth records.