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.
Just when I say
"Boy we can't miss
You are golden"
Then you do this
You say this guy is so cool
Snapping his fingers like a fool
One more expensive kiss-off
Who do you think I am
Lord I know you're a special friend
But you don't seem to understand
We got heavy rollers
I think you should know
Try again tomorrow
Can't you see they're laughing at me
Get rid off him
I don't care what you do at home
Would you care to explain
Who is the gaucho amigo
Why is he standing
In your spangled leather poncho
And your elevator shoes
Bodacious cowboys
Such as your friend
Will never be welcome here
High in the Custerdome
What I tell you
Back down the line
I'll scratch your back
You can scratch mine
No he can't sleep on the floor
What do you think I'm yelling for
I'll drop him near the freeway
Doesn't he have a home
Lord I know you're a special friend
But you refuse to understand
You're a nasty schoolboy
With no place to go
Try again tomorrow
Don't tell me he'll wait in the car
Look at you
Holding hands with the man from Rio
Would you care to explain
Who is the gaucho amigo
Why is he standing
In your spangled leather poncho
With the studs that match your eyes
Bodacious cowboys
Such as your friend
Will never be welcome here
High in the Custerdome
"Boy we can't miss
You are golden"
Then you do this
You say this guy is so cool
Snapping his fingers like a fool
One more expensive kiss-off
Who do you think I am
Lord I know you're a special friend
But you don't seem to understand
We got heavy rollers
I think you should know
Try again tomorrow
Can't you see they're laughing at me
Get rid off him
I don't care what you do at home
Would you care to explain
Who is the gaucho amigo
Why is he standing
In your spangled leather poncho
And your elevator shoes
Bodacious cowboys
Such as your friend
Will never be welcome here
High in the Custerdome
What I tell you
Back down the line
I'll scratch your back
You can scratch mine
No he can't sleep on the floor
What do you think I'm yelling for
I'll drop him near the freeway
Doesn't he have a home
Lord I know you're a special friend
But you refuse to understand
You're a nasty schoolboy
With no place to go
Try again tomorrow
Don't tell me he'll wait in the car
Look at you
Holding hands with the man from Rio
Would you care to explain
Who is the gaucho amigo
Why is he standing
In your spangled leather poncho
With the studs that match your eyes
Bodacious cowboys
Such as your friend
Will never be welcome here
High in the Custerdome
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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,
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I have always thought the narrator of the song was a manager talking to his client, an athlete... probably a pro wrestler or rodeo star ( i get this from the spangled leather poncho refernce) ... warning him to keep his homosexuality secret so as not to ruin his budding career (just when I say boy we cant miss, you are golden, now you do this) or offend their sponsors (heavy rollers) I agree, this is a highly underrated album... one of my favorites along with Royal Scam
Cojo - Neat idea, but I have to disagree with you. I think the narrator is in love with the man he's speking to. <br /> For me, the critical line is, "with the studs that match your eyes", sung kind of wistfully. That's always been my favorite line. I love how it's added as an unexpected addendum to the regular line right at the end. <br /> The way I hear this, it's an older male lover who, the entire song, is pretending as though his objections to the gaucho intruder are all essentially unemotional, how the gaucho is ridiculous, embarassing, pathetic, but, at the very end, he reveals his superior, authoritative objections are all a sham, a facade, and really he's jealous, heartbroken, crushed. <br /> Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but that's the way I hear it, and though I'm not gay, read that way it feels to me like terrific writing, creating great complexity of character obliquely. I can hear all the emotions in his voice of wounded pride trying to make a desperate show of pretend strength. Love it.
Cojo - Neat idea, but I have to disagree with you. I think the narrator is in love with the man he's speking to. <br /> For me, the critical line is, "with the studs that match your eyes", sung kind of wistfully. That's always been my favorite line. I love how it's added as an unexpected addendum to the regular line right at the end. <br /> The way I hear this, it's an older male lover who, the entire song, is pretending as though his objections to the gaucho intruder are all essentially unemotional, how the gaucho is ridiculous, embarassing, pathetic, but, at the very end, he reveals his superior, authoritative objections are all a sham, a facade, and really he's jealous, heartbroken, crushed. <br /> Maybe I'm reading too much into it, but that's the way I hear it, and though I'm not gay, read that way it feels to me like terrific writing, creating great complexity of character obliquely. I can hear all the emotions in his voice of wounded pride trying to make a desperate show of pretend strength. Love it.
Cojo - Neat idea, but I have to disagree with you. I think the narrator is in love with the man he's speking to. <br /> For me, the critical line is, "with the studs that match your eyes", sung kind of wistfully. That's always been my favorite line. I love how it's added as an unexpected addendum to the regular line right at the end. <br /> The way I hear this, it's an older male lover who, the entire song, is pretending as though his objections to the gaucho intruder are all essentially unemotional, how the gaucho is ridiculous, embarassing, pathetic, but, at the very end, he reveals his superior, authoritative objections are all a sham, a facade, and really he's jealous, heartbroken, crushed. <br /> Maybe I'm reading waaay too much into it, but that's the way I hear it, and though I'm not gay, read that way it feels to me like terrific writing, creating great complexity of character obliquely. I can hear all the emotions in his voice of wounded pride trying to make a desperate show of pretend strength. Love it.
Hahaha, I'd say it one more time. Sorry, something screwed up with my browser and I can't seem to erase the extra replies.