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.
Ooh-wee-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-wee
Walk, walk, walk, walk
Ooh-wee-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh
Walk like a man
Oh, how you tried to cut me down to size
Tellin' dirty lies to my friends (ooh-ah, ooh-ah, ooh-ah, ooh)
But my own father said give her up, don't bother
The world isn't comin' to an end
(He said)
Walk like a man, talk like a man
Walk like a man, my son
No woman's worth crawlin' on the earth
So walk like a man, my son
Oh wee ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-wee-ooh
Walk, walk, walk, walk
Ooh-wee-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh
Bye, baby, I don't-a mean maybe
Gonna get along somehow (ooh-ah, ooh-ah, ooh-ah, ooh)
Soon you'll be cryin' on account of all your lyin'
Oh yeah, just look who's laughin' now
(I'm gonna)
Walk like a man, fast as I can
Walk like a man from you
I'll tell the world, forget about it, girl
And walk like a man from you
Ooh-wee-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-wee-ooh
Walk, walk, walk, walk
Ooh-wee-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh
Walk, walk, walk, walk
Walk, walk, walk, walk
Ooh-wee-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-wee-ooh
Walk, walk, walk, walk
Ooh-wee-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh
Walk like a man
Oh, how you tried to cut me down to size
Tellin' dirty lies to my friends (ooh-ah, ooh-ah, ooh-ah, ooh)
But my own father said give her up, don't bother
The world isn't comin' to an end
(He said)
Walk like a man, talk like a man
Walk like a man, my son
No woman's worth crawlin' on the earth
So walk like a man, my son
Oh wee ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-wee-ooh
Walk, walk, walk, walk
Ooh-wee-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh
Bye, baby, I don't-a mean maybe
Gonna get along somehow (ooh-ah, ooh-ah, ooh-ah, ooh)
Soon you'll be cryin' on account of all your lyin'
Oh yeah, just look who's laughin' now
(I'm gonna)
Walk like a man, fast as I can
Walk like a man from you
I'll tell the world, forget about it, girl
And walk like a man from you
Ooh-wee-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-wee-ooh
Walk, walk, walk, walk
Ooh-wee-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh
Walk, walk, walk, walk
Walk, walk, walk, walk
Ooh-wee-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh, ooh-wee-ooh
Lyrics submitted by RebelPancake
Walk Like A Man Lyrics as written by Robert Gaudio Robert Crewe
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
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This guy must have been the pimp back in his day; most of his songs are either love songs or post-love songs.
With this song, she obviously lied to the guy a lot and probably didn't respect him much. So he took his dad's advice and just got over her. He figured she didn't really care about him and was just stringing him along because she was afraid (not being true to herself).
I don't really agree with the two previous comments 100%. It is actually ironic because my father quoted this song when giving me advice. I wasn't even in a relationship with the girl, but was being played and my father said "No woman is worth crawling on the earth so walk like a man myself". It is basically saying, don't let a woman play you and to use another quote i heard "don't make someone a priority if you are just their option."
I disagree with all three of the comments above. I think they all have pieces, but allow me to put it together. This is a song about a guy who had grown attached to a girl who was spreading lies about him to his friends. His dad told him that no woman is worth that kind of trouble, and that he should walk away from the relationship. He does, knowing he'll get along somehow, and she'll be stung by her own poisonous lies in the end. It's pretty obvious, this is one of the most plainly written songs around.
After reading previous comments, then watching Jersey Boys, it seems that there is one simple meaning: grow up. Bob Gaudio, when describing the song to Tommy says "We want teen boys to act like men." So I guess my interpretation would be, don't waste your youth wrapped around a girls finger, grow up and find a woman!
Its just about a guy where the girl dumped him. Its a macho thing. He isnt more of a man becasue he can take it. Men dump women every day.-- As reported by my collaborator here.