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.
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll
But when evening rolls around and it's time to hit the town
Where do you go
You gotta rock it
The old folks say that you gotta end your date by ten
But if you're out on a date don't you bring her home late 'cause it's a sin
You know there's no excuse, you know you're gonna lose, you never win
I'll say it again
And it's all because
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll
But when evening rolls around and it's time to hit the town
Where do you go
You gotta rock it, rock it
You see I pulled into a drive-in and I found a place to park
We hopped into the backseat where it's always nice and dark
We're just about to move thinkin' umm, Bret, this is a breeze
There's a light in my eye and a guy says, out of the car, long hair
Oowee, you're coming with me
Said the local police
And it's all because
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll
But when evening comes around and it's time to hit the town
Where do you go
Ah, play me a little C.C., woo
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll
They just ain't cool and it ain't about the style
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll
Your mama don't dance, no
She just don't dance, no
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll
Ah, yeah
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll
But when evening rolls around and it's time to hit the town
Where do you go
You gotta rock it
The old folks say that you gotta end your date by ten
But if you're out on a date don't you bring her home late 'cause it's a sin
You know there's no excuse, you know you're gonna lose, you never win
I'll say it again
And it's all because
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll
But when evening rolls around and it's time to hit the town
Where do you go
You gotta rock it, rock it
You see I pulled into a drive-in and I found a place to park
We hopped into the backseat where it's always nice and dark
We're just about to move thinkin' umm, Bret, this is a breeze
There's a light in my eye and a guy says, out of the car, long hair
Oowee, you're coming with me
Said the local police
And it's all because
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll
But when evening comes around and it's time to hit the town
Where do you go
Ah, play me a little C.C., woo
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll
They just ain't cool and it ain't about the style
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll
Your mama don't dance, no
She just don't dance, no
Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll
Ah, yeah
Lyrics submitted by harveyknox
Your Mama Don't Dance Lyrics as written by Kenneth Clark Loggins Jim Messina
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, CTM Publishing
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
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."
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.
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.
This song is about a girl with very old-fashioned parents, and her taking a night on the town. BTW this song was originally done by Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina.
No, you stupid bonehead! This song is about a young MAN who still lives at home with his parents. Because his parents never go out at night to have fun, he ends up trying to nail his girlfriend in his car rather than his own bedroom. This results in his arrest for public indecency by overzealous cops. <br /> Haven't you had a similar experience at least once in your life? Who hasn't?
No, you stupid bonehead! This song is about a young MAN who still lives at home with his parents. Because his parents never go out at night to have fun, he ends up trying to nail his girlfriend in his car rather than his own bedroom. This results in his arrest for public indecency by overzealous cops.
Yes, this is a cover, but it's great!