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.
Somebody's baby boy ain't coming home tonight
We don't need no baseball bats
We don't need no silver ghats
But we're gonna fight tonight
Put up your dukes and fight
Big brother's just standing on the side
Watching you flex your pride
But you know if they all jump in
Big brother's got your skin
The ice cream truck it sings no more
All the kids from school are keeping score
You swing and you duck and you hit the floor
but you gotta get up at least once more
Mama comes screaming down the stairs
Everybody looks but nobody scared
Mama can't believe that nobody cares
It's her baby boy how do they dare
Mama says bitch come over here
If you're so tough you'll have no fear
But why'd you bring all your friends
And the whole damn school
To watch my baby boy go down like a fool
But brother says mama they're the same damn size
Got to let him grow up and get street wise
But mama says baby go get that bat
And come back down and beat some ass
Somebody's baby boy ain't coming home tonight
One wrong move and it'll be too late
Mama won't be making no birthday cake
It all went down one afternoon
In Brooklyn
We don't need no baseball bats
We don't need no silver ghats
But we're gonna fight tonight
Put up your dukes and fight
Big brother's just standing on the side
Watching you flex your pride
But you know if they all jump in
Big brother's got your skin
The ice cream truck it sings no more
All the kids from school are keeping score
You swing and you duck and you hit the floor
but you gotta get up at least once more
Mama comes screaming down the stairs
Everybody looks but nobody scared
Mama can't believe that nobody cares
It's her baby boy how do they dare
Mama says bitch come over here
If you're so tough you'll have no fear
But why'd you bring all your friends
And the whole damn school
To watch my baby boy go down like a fool
But brother says mama they're the same damn size
Got to let him grow up and get street wise
But mama says baby go get that bat
And come back down and beat some ass
Somebody's baby boy ain't coming home tonight
One wrong move and it'll be too late
Mama won't be making no birthday cake
It all went down one afternoon
In Brooklyn
Lyrics submitted by diabolical
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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Great version of a great song,
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it's not about baseball or any of the crap everyone's analyzing. Can't you just take it for what it is? a story.
CocoRosie are from Brooklyn, perhaps it's from their environment, perhaps from somewhere else. It's a heartbreaking song, and a mother's son is taken from her.
It's depressing to see what some people take from CocoRosie...