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.
He's a dirty old man,
And a dirty old man,
He's a dirty old man and a friend of mine.
I'm a dirty old man?
My life is cold,
I'll chill you to the bone,
Heart of stone,
Have a care,
You know my breath stinks,
I leave shit everywhere,
So be aware (?)
Don't you dare try appealing to my better nature,
You better wait, you're misinformed,
Ain't nothing warm about me,
(?) concrete clay and steel,
And what else is real?
I mean the actual deal,
People seem to love living under my skin,
Some of them call me London,
I'm also known as New York.
Anywhere in the world you find me
I talk the same bad talk,
Walk the same walk from side to side,
You're transparent to me,
There ain't a thing you can hide,
Derive glamour from the stamina it takes to survive.
Now give me your cash and go
Before you're heart brakes,
You're living under my wing
And all you got I'm going to take,
I'm a dirty old man.
He's a dirty old man and a dirty old man,
He's a dirty old man and a friend of mine.
I'm a rough old man beyond heart ache,
To improve my mood I could use an earthquake,
I sit awake for my people to release the pain,
So I can know peace again
In my skin, sin deceit and mistrust soaked in,
I think I might just ?
Often drops of woe, streets flow with tears,
I fall down all around your ears.
If I could, if I was made of wood start a fire, no lie,
'Cause I wouldn't bet on people changing just yet
My eyes are wet and my heart is full of fear and regret,
I started young, I got teenagers carrying guns.
And a dirty old man,
He's a dirty old man and a friend of mine.
I'm a dirty old man?
My life is cold,
I'll chill you to the bone,
Heart of stone,
Have a care,
You know my breath stinks,
I leave shit everywhere,
So be aware (?)
Don't you dare try appealing to my better nature,
You better wait, you're misinformed,
Ain't nothing warm about me,
(?) concrete clay and steel,
And what else is real?
I mean the actual deal,
People seem to love living under my skin,
Some of them call me London,
I'm also known as New York.
Anywhere in the world you find me
I talk the same bad talk,
Walk the same walk from side to side,
You're transparent to me,
There ain't a thing you can hide,
Derive glamour from the stamina it takes to survive.
Now give me your cash and go
Before you're heart brakes,
You're living under my wing
And all you got I'm going to take,
I'm a dirty old man.
He's a dirty old man and a dirty old man,
He's a dirty old man and a friend of mine.
I'm a rough old man beyond heart ache,
To improve my mood I could use an earthquake,
I sit awake for my people to release the pain,
So I can know peace again
In my skin, sin deceit and mistrust soaked in,
I think I might just ?
Often drops of woe, streets flow with tears,
I fall down all around your ears.
If I could, if I was made of wood start a fire, no lie,
'Cause I wouldn't bet on people changing just yet
My eyes are wet and my heart is full of fear and regret,
I started young, I got teenagers carrying guns.
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can't believe nobody has commented on this great song :)
although I suppose the meaning is pretty obvious