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 got the power
He's like a god
But he's the devil of flesh and blood
A '45 is his religion
Code of silence his belief
It's the kiss of death
A '45 is his religion
Code of silence his belief
You can find them in a gutter
You will find 'em in your church
They always knows each other
They call it family
You may end up six-feet-under
Anywhere and anytime
It's a one-way-street with a thousand lanes
And a million ways to die
A Thompson sub-machine gun made my day
Sick, dirty and mean
You can hide but you can't run
Sick, dirty and mean
Headhunters cut you down
A godfather's kiss
An icepick in your eye
Sick, dirty and mean
It's like a killing machine
Can you hear your mother crying
Can you see your father die
Can you walk away from children
Dying facedown in the dirt
But if you break the code of silence
You gotta do it anyway
If we don't stop the violence
The mob is here to stay
A pair of concrete slippers
There all vultures all over your back
Sick, dirty and mean
You can hide but you can't run
Sick, dirty and mean
Headhunters cut you down
They will terminate your contract
They will finalize the deal
Sick, dirty and mean
It's a killing machine
A '45 is his religion
Code of silence his belief
It's a double barreled shotgun
With an Ouzi on the side
Sick, dirty and mean
You can hide but you can't run
Sick, dirty and mean
Headhunters cut you down
If you want to be a songbird
There's an axe to clip your wings
Sick, dirty and mean
It's a killing machine
Sick, dirty and mean
Sick, dirty and mean
Sick, dirty and mean
Sick, dirty and mean
He's like a god
But he's the devil of flesh and blood
A '45 is his religion
Code of silence his belief
It's the kiss of death
A '45 is his religion
Code of silence his belief
You can find them in a gutter
You will find 'em in your church
They always knows each other
They call it family
You may end up six-feet-under
Anywhere and anytime
It's a one-way-street with a thousand lanes
And a million ways to die
A Thompson sub-machine gun made my day
Sick, dirty and mean
You can hide but you can't run
Sick, dirty and mean
Headhunters cut you down
A godfather's kiss
An icepick in your eye
Sick, dirty and mean
It's like a killing machine
Can you hear your mother crying
Can you see your father die
Can you walk away from children
Dying facedown in the dirt
But if you break the code of silence
You gotta do it anyway
If we don't stop the violence
The mob is here to stay
A pair of concrete slippers
There all vultures all over your back
Sick, dirty and mean
You can hide but you can't run
Sick, dirty and mean
Headhunters cut you down
They will terminate your contract
They will finalize the deal
Sick, dirty and mean
It's a killing machine
A '45 is his religion
Code of silence his belief
It's a double barreled shotgun
With an Ouzi on the side
Sick, dirty and mean
You can hide but you can't run
Sick, dirty and mean
Headhunters cut you down
If you want to be a songbird
There's an axe to clip your wings
Sick, dirty and mean
It's a killing machine
Sick, dirty and mean
Sick, dirty and mean
Sick, dirty and mean
Sick, dirty and mean
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