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.
I'm gonna get me on the ride up
I'm gonna get
Can I have a little more on my voice?
Get me on the ride up
I'm on the top of the hill
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
New corn yellow and slaughterhouse red
The birds keep singing baby after you're dead
I'm gonna miss you plenty big old world
With our abalone earrings and your mother of pearl
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
I need your moon to be the sky against
Don't get your trouser button stuck on the fence
Diego red and bedlam money are fine
Why don't you come up here and see me sometime
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
I'm only goin'
I'm only goin'
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
There's very little leeway
I seen a mattress on the freeway
The moon rises over Dog Street
Jefferson said not every thing's reet
Have all the lights burned out on heaven again
I'll never roll the number 7 again
I'm made of bread and I'm on an ocean of wine
I hear all the birdies on the phone just fine
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
I'm only goin'
I'm only goin'
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
Black joke and the bean soup
Big sky and the Ford Coupe
Old maid and the dry bones
A red Rover and the Skinny Bones Jones
47 mules to pull this train
We're getting married in the pouring rain
You need your differential and plenty of oil
You load the wagon till the end of the world
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
I'm only goin'
I'm only goin'
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
What's your throttle made of, is it money or bone
Don't you doddle or you'll never get home
Opium, fireworks, vodka and meat
Scoot over and save me a seat
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
I'm only goin'
I'm only goin'
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
If I had it all to do all over again
I'd try to rise above the laws of man
Why don' cha gimme 'nother sip of your cup
Turn a Rolls Royce into a Chicken Coup
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
I'm only goin'
I'm only goin'
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
Hey!
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
Ha! Ha!
I'm gonna get
Can I have a little more on my voice?
Get me on the ride up
I'm on the top of the hill
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
New corn yellow and slaughterhouse red
The birds keep singing baby after you're dead
I'm gonna miss you plenty big old world
With our abalone earrings and your mother of pearl
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
I need your moon to be the sky against
Don't get your trouser button stuck on the fence
Diego red and bedlam money are fine
Why don't you come up here and see me sometime
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
I'm only goin'
I'm only goin'
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
There's very little leeway
I seen a mattress on the freeway
The moon rises over Dog Street
Jefferson said not every thing's reet
Have all the lights burned out on heaven again
I'll never roll the number 7 again
I'm made of bread and I'm on an ocean of wine
I hear all the birdies on the phone just fine
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
I'm only goin'
I'm only goin'
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
Black joke and the bean soup
Big sky and the Ford Coupe
Old maid and the dry bones
A red Rover and the Skinny Bones Jones
47 mules to pull this train
We're getting married in the pouring rain
You need your differential and plenty of oil
You load the wagon till the end of the world
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
I'm only goin'
I'm only goin'
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
What's your throttle made of, is it money or bone
Don't you doddle or you'll never get home
Opium, fireworks, vodka and meat
Scoot over and save me a seat
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
I'm only goin'
I'm only goin'
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
If I had it all to do all over again
I'd try to rise above the laws of man
Why don' cha gimme 'nother sip of your cup
Turn a Rolls Royce into a Chicken Coup
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
I'm only goin'
I'm only goin'
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
Hey!
Stop and get me on the ride up
Stop and get me on the ride up
I'm only goin' to the top of the hill
Ha! Ha!
Lyrics submitted by deliriumtrigger
Top of the Hill Lyrics as written by Thomas Alan Waits Kathleen Brennan
Lyrics © JALMA MUSIC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I like eggytoast's explanation that he's dead. Seems to make sense...