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.
In 1969
i killed a man of mine
in his small mind to the town
i was hunted down by hounds
hear the nighthawks cry
the voices try and hollow
hear the crowd cheer
they cheer me to the gallow
In 1985
i was doing time alright
i made a plan to escape
and then as the lady of the late
hear the crowd it goes
their voices try and hollow
cant you hear them call
they cheer me to the gallow
1995
was the year i came out for child?
i listened to his song
and watch the sun make the shadows long
hear the nighthawk call
his voices try and hollow
hear the crowd call
they cheer me to the gallow
hear the nighthawk call
his voices try and hollow
hear the nighthawk call
in a voice thats hollow
i killed a man of mine
in his small mind to the town
i was hunted down by hounds
hear the nighthawks cry
the voices try and hollow
hear the crowd cheer
they cheer me to the gallow
In 1985
i was doing time alright
i made a plan to escape
and then as the lady of the late
hear the crowd it goes
their voices try and hollow
cant you hear them call
they cheer me to the gallow
1995
was the year i came out for child?
i listened to his song
and watch the sun make the shadows long
hear the nighthawk call
his voices try and hollow
hear the crowd call
they cheer me to the gallow
hear the nighthawk call
his voices try and hollow
hear the nighthawk call
in a voice thats hollow
Lyrics submitted by goddamnfruit
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I think I may have had something to do with them keeping this song.
Back then, Crook was posting around on TSNET's board a lot and keeping real tight with the fans and people there, and noone really dug this song except for me and a few others. It was slated for removal, but I begged and begged Crook to get it on the final release.
If not, thanks anyways, Cork.
But, the lyrics on this are wrong. They are as follows:
In 1969 i killed a man of mine in a small Montana town i was hunted down by hounds hear the nighthawks cry their voices dry and hollow hear the crowd cheer they cheer me to the gallows
In 1985 i was doing time alive i made a plan to escape and live as the lady of the lake hear the crowd of ghosts their voices dry and hollow cant you hear them call? they cheer me to the gallows
1995 was the year i came up for trial i listened to his song and watched the sun make the shadows long hear the nighthawk call his voices dry and hollow hear the crowd call they cheer me to the gallows hear the nighthawk call his voices dry and hollow hear the nighthawk call in a voice that's hollow
Another thing to note is that Crook used a (reportedly EXTREMELY old) record with audio of bullfights on it for the claps / chants on this song, and they were added after the initial recording.