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.
Magpie, magpie leave me alone
I have a wife and a child at home
Find your own way little bird, this aint that you thought I heard
This aint that that you deserve (x2)
I read the book and I found the way
I picked the feather from the devil and he say
Matthew (that is not my name)!
Matthew (that is not my name)!
That is not my name!
There’s men that I’ve cursed and there’s women that I’ve killed
There’s children that I’ve loved and there’s bridges that I’ve built
Enter the man with the wand in his hand
The truth and the crack and the wonky top hat
And say “Magpie magpie join me in hell
I’ve been twenty-three years here by myself
And all of my friend’s I’ve been looking so green
Like grass on the other side of a great bloody stream”
Saying life is often likely too
I say no way, fuck that, I’m a suicide cat
So magpie magpie, the devil and his wife,
Settling down for dinner, for a glass of the red wine
What say he this is bitter pie, they serve you lightly politely in time
I visit nightly deciding the crime
Life is often likely to
If a bird as black as that has been following you
And saying magpie magpie how can you tell
Magpie magpie join me in hell
With all of the murders and all of the birds
I shit you not Britain you get what you deserve!
I have a wife and a child at home
Find your own way little bird, this aint that you thought I heard
This aint that that you deserve (x2)
I read the book and I found the way
I picked the feather from the devil and he say
Matthew (that is not my name)!
Matthew (that is not my name)!
That is not my name!
There’s men that I’ve cursed and there’s women that I’ve killed
There’s children that I’ve loved and there’s bridges that I’ve built
Enter the man with the wand in his hand
The truth and the crack and the wonky top hat
And say “Magpie magpie join me in hell
I’ve been twenty-three years here by myself
And all of my friend’s I’ve been looking so green
Like grass on the other side of a great bloody stream”
Saying life is often likely too
I say no way, fuck that, I’m a suicide cat
So magpie magpie, the devil and his wife,
Settling down for dinner, for a glass of the red wine
What say he this is bitter pie, they serve you lightly politely in time
I visit nightly deciding the crime
Life is often likely to
If a bird as black as that has been following you
And saying magpie magpie how can you tell
Magpie magpie join me in hell
With all of the murders and all of the birds
I shit you not Britain you get what you deserve!
Lyrics submitted by matilda-v
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