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.
Downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
Downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
Downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
All along that day
You gonna run to the sea
But the sea will be boiling
When you run to the sea
The sea will be boiling
When you run to the sea
The sea will be boiling
All along that day
You gonna run to the rocks
The rocks will be melting
When you run to the rocks
The rocks will be melting
When you run to the rocks
The rocks will be melting
I said, all along that day
So I said
Downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
I said, downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
I said, downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
All along that day
You drink your big champagne and laugh
You drink your big champagne and laugh
You drink your big champagne and laugh
All along that day
I wouldn't like to be a flea
Under your collar man
I wouldn't like to be a flea
Under your collar man
I wouldn't like to be a flea
Under your collar man
All along that day
You can run but you can't hide
You can run but you can't hide
You can run but you can't hide
Telling you all along that day
You gonna run to the law
Beggin' to hide you
You gonna run to the law
Beggin' to hide you
You gonna run to jah
Beggin' to hide you
All, all along that day
And I said downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
Where you gonna run to downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
I said all along
Along that day (downpresser man)
Downpresser man, downpresser man
Downpresser man, downpresser man
Wait, downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
Downpresser man
I don't know where you gonna run to
All along that day
Downpresser man
You can't run, you can't bribe jah-jah
Can't call him in a bar
Fe can drink some
Devil soup
Can't bribe him to run a car now
Can't test him faith
Downpresser man, don't, downpresser man
I said, downpresser man, don't run, downpresser man
Downpresser man, where you gonna run to
Downpresser man
You can't bribe no one
Them no want no money
Them run'f money
That money gets funny
Downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
Downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
Downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
All along that day
You gonna run to the sea
But the sea will be boiling
When you run to the sea
The sea will be boiling
When you run to the sea
The sea will be boiling
All along that day
You gonna run to the rocks
The rocks will be melting
When you run to the rocks
The rocks will be melting
When you run to the rocks
The rocks will be melting
I said, all along that day
So I said
Downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
I said, downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
I said, downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
All along that day
You drink your big champagne and laugh
You drink your big champagne and laugh
You drink your big champagne and laugh
All along that day
I wouldn't like to be a flea
Under your collar man
I wouldn't like to be a flea
Under your collar man
I wouldn't like to be a flea
Under your collar man
All along that day
You can run but you can't hide
You can run but you can't hide
You can run but you can't hide
Telling you all along that day
You gonna run to the law
Beggin' to hide you
You gonna run to the law
Beggin' to hide you
You gonna run to jah
Beggin' to hide you
All, all along that day
And I said downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
Where you gonna run to downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
I said all along
Along that day (downpresser man)
Downpresser man, downpresser man
Downpresser man, downpresser man
Wait, downpresser man
Where you gonna run to
Downpresser man
I don't know where you gonna run to
All along that day
Downpresser man
You can't run, you can't bribe jah-jah
Can't call him in a bar
Fe can drink some
Devil soup
Can't bribe him to run a car now
Can't test him faith
Downpresser man, don't, downpresser man
I said, downpresser man, don't run, downpresser man
Downpresser man, where you gonna run to
Downpresser man
You can't bribe no one
Them no want no money
Them run'f money
That money gets funny
Downpresser man
Lyrics submitted by wailers564
Downpresser Man Lyrics as written by Peter Tosh
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Peermusic Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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To me, his greatest version is: Equal Rights/Downpressor Man (Live) on the The Best Of Peter Tosh 1978-1987 album.
This song to me could be interpreted a number of ways. Definitely sounds first to be about the landowners/politicians of Jamaica. Their shenanigans will eventually be exposed.
All in all a great song. Even better in the live version!