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 was picked up and then dropped off in a culture counter-clockwise turned around
Dug a hole in Southern Carolina - took me straight to China safe and sound
Donated my map to the lost and found
While working for a common cause I only got a kamikaze state of mind
This self defeating meeting of the minds is eating what was once so hard to find
But right then the clouds parted in the sky
The horizon took us all a little by surprise
Watch the sky
And as the howling winds subsided, the locals ran out,
All waving their hands and singing:
Welcome to the island of the honest man
Do what you want - there is no need to impress us
Welcome to the island of the honest man
We don't believe in what the big people tell us
Wait here, stay here
I was picked up and then dropped off in a culture counter-clockwise turned around
Rolled a pair of dice in Paris that got me to paradise all safe and sound.
Stole my temper back from the lost and found
No longer needed to be seated on a sinking ship just waiting there to drown
Jump off now. jump off now
And as they lead us to their village, a thousand voices all started to sing out loud:
Welcome to the island of the honest man
Do what you want - there is no need to impress us
Welcome to the island of the honest man
We don't believe in what the big people tell us
Wait here, stay here
From the sunrise up above to the sunset below, they all sing
Welcome in, welcome back, well come on let's go
And all the people on the island they already know why they sing
Welcome in, welcome back, well come on let's go
From the sunrise up above to the sunset below, they all sing
Welcome in, welcome back, well come on let's go
And all the people on the island they all want to show why they sing
Why they sing, why they sing, why they're singing
Welcome to the island of the honest man
Do what you want - there is no need to impress us
Welcome to the island of the honest man
We don't believe in what the big people tell us
Welcome to the island of the honest man
This is the island of the honest man
Welcome to the island of the honest man
This is the island of the honest man
Wait here, stay here
I was picked up and then dropped off in a culture counter-clockwise turned around
Dug a hole in Southern Carolina - took me straight to China safe and sound
Donated my map to the lost and found
While working for a common cause I only got a kamikaze state of mind
This self defeating meeting of the minds is eating what was once so hard to find
But right then the clouds parted in the sky
The horizon took us all a little by surprise
Watch the sky
And as the howling winds subsided, the locals ran out,
All waving their hands and singing:
Welcome to the island of the honest man
Do what you want - there is no need to impress us
Welcome to the island of the honest man
We don't believe in what the big people tell us
Wait here, stay here
I was picked up and then dropped off in a culture counter-clockwise turned around
Rolled a pair of dice in Paris that got me to paradise all safe and sound.
Stole my temper back from the lost and found
No longer needed to be seated on a sinking ship just waiting there to drown
Jump off now. jump off now
And as they lead us to their village, a thousand voices all started to sing out loud:
Welcome to the island of the honest man
Do what you want - there is no need to impress us
Welcome to the island of the honest man
We don't believe in what the big people tell us
Wait here, stay here
From the sunrise up above to the sunset below, they all sing
Welcome in, welcome back, well come on let's go
And all the people on the island they already know why they sing
Welcome in, welcome back, well come on let's go
From the sunrise up above to the sunset below, they all sing
Welcome in, welcome back, well come on let's go
And all the people on the island they all want to show why they sing
Why they sing, why they sing, why they're singing
Welcome to the island of the honest man
Do what you want - there is no need to impress us
Welcome to the island of the honest man
We don't believe in what the big people tell us
Welcome to the island of the honest man
This is the island of the honest man
Welcome to the island of the honest man
This is the island of the honest man
Wait here, stay here
I was picked up and then dropped off in a culture counter-clockwise turned around
Lyrics submitted by clippy.hanger
Island of the Honest Man Lyrics as written by Dustin Patrick Hawthorne Dante Decaro
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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has anyone else noticed the peole on the island sing "welcome back"...like you've already been there, you just didn't know it. hard to explain what I mean...it just kinda hit me when I heard the song. anyways, the song rocks, like all of 'em by HHH! I like your idea too emoismusic. like when he sings (or they sing?) "Do what you want - there is no need to impress us" and "We don't believe in what the big people tell us". just a place where people act however they want. a place where you don't have to worry about how others perceive you or think you should act.