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.
A woman came up to me and said
"I'd like to poison your mind
With wrong ideas that appeal to you
Though I am not unkind"
She looked at me, I looked at something
Written across her scalp
And these are the words that it faintly said
As I tried to call for help
There's only one thing that I know how to do well
And I've often been told that you only can do
What you know how to do well
And that's be you,
Be what you're like,
Be like yourself,
And so I'm having a wonderful time
But I'd rather be whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
There's only one thing that I like
And that is whistling in the dark
A man came up to me and said
"I'd like to change your mind
By hitting it with a rock," he said,
"Though I am not unkind."
We laughed at his little joke
And then I happily walked away
And hit my head on the wall of the jail
Where the two of us live today.
There's only one thing that I know how to do well
And I've often been told that you only can do
What you know how to do well
And that's be you,
Be what you're like,
Be like yourself,
And so I'm having a wonderful time
But I'd rather be whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
There's only one thing that I like
And that is whistling in the dark
There's only one thing that I know how to do well
And I've often been told that you only can do
What you know how to do well
And that's be you,
Be what you're like,
Be like yourself,
And so I'm having a wonderful time
But I'd rather be whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling, whistling
Whistling in the dark
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
"I'd like to poison your mind
With wrong ideas that appeal to you
Though I am not unkind"
She looked at me, I looked at something
Written across her scalp
And these are the words that it faintly said
As I tried to call for help
There's only one thing that I know how to do well
And I've often been told that you only can do
What you know how to do well
And that's be you,
Be what you're like,
Be like yourself,
And so I'm having a wonderful time
But I'd rather be whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
There's only one thing that I like
And that is whistling in the dark
A man came up to me and said
"I'd like to change your mind
By hitting it with a rock," he said,
"Though I am not unkind."
We laughed at his little joke
And then I happily walked away
And hit my head on the wall of the jail
Where the two of us live today.
There's only one thing that I know how to do well
And I've often been told that you only can do
What you know how to do well
And that's be you,
Be what you're like,
Be like yourself,
And so I'm having a wonderful time
But I'd rather be whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
There's only one thing that I like
And that is whistling in the dark
There's only one thing that I know how to do well
And I've often been told that you only can do
What you know how to do well
And that's be you,
Be what you're like,
Be like yourself,
And so I'm having a wonderful time
But I'd rather be whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling in the dark
Whistling, whistling
Whistling in the dark
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Whistling (whistling), whistling (whistling)
Dark (dark), Dark (dark)
Lyrics submitted by Irrational
Whistling in the Dark Lyrics as written by John Linnell John Flansburgh
Lyrics © Freibank Musikverlags und vermarktungs GmbH, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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In the John Waters film A Dirty Shame "whistling in the dark" is used as an epression for performing cunnilingus. Even though I seriously doubt that that is the meaning of the expression in this song it's pretty amusing to interpret it that way.