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.
It's against the law to walk, and against the law to talk
Against the law to loaf, against the law to work
Against the law to read, against the law to write
Against the law to be a black, a brown, or white
Everything's against the law
I'm a low-pay daddy singing the high-price blues
It's against the law to eat, against the law to drink
Against the law to worry, against the law to think
Against the law to marry or try to settle down
Against the law to ramble like a bum from town to town
Everything's against the law
I'm a low-pay daddy singing the high-price blues
It's against the law to come, against the law to go
Against the law to ride, against the law to roll
Against the law to hug and against the law to kiss
Against the law to shoot, against the law to miss
Everything's against the law
I'm a low-pay daddy singing the high-price blues
It's against the law to gamble, against the law to roam
Against the law to organize or try to build a home
Against the law to sing, it's against the law to dance
Against the law to tell you all the trouble on my hands
Everything in Winston-Salem is against the law
I'm a low-pay daddy singing the high-price blues
Against the law to loaf, against the law to work
Against the law to read, against the law to write
Against the law to be a black, a brown, or white
Everything's against the law
I'm a low-pay daddy singing the high-price blues
It's against the law to eat, against the law to drink
Against the law to worry, against the law to think
Against the law to marry or try to settle down
Against the law to ramble like a bum from town to town
Everything's against the law
I'm a low-pay daddy singing the high-price blues
It's against the law to come, against the law to go
Against the law to ride, against the law to roll
Against the law to hug and against the law to kiss
Against the law to shoot, against the law to miss
Everything's against the law
I'm a low-pay daddy singing the high-price blues
It's against the law to gamble, against the law to roam
Against the law to organize or try to build a home
Against the law to sing, it's against the law to dance
Against the law to tell you all the trouble on my hands
Everything in Winston-Salem is against the law
I'm a low-pay daddy singing the high-price blues
Lyrics submitted by pro-voice
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