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.
white man in white pants was dancing
inside out and lost his ass
a little black girl on black rollerblades
found his butt and picked it up
and gave it back and said: "hey pops,
c'mon down, we're having a parade!"
everybody in this town is turning brown
it's summertime
c'mon down, we're having a parade
don't answer your phone, let it sing
and join the orchestra of rings
that will be our soundtrack for today
a million people realize there's better things to do
than wasting their whole lives being accessible to you
like throwing off their clothes and marching down the avenue
singing "i'm in new york city, don't i look so pretty? hey!"
mike bloomberg and jesse jackson
sit in tompkins square relaxin'
reach a stalemate, start another game
sarah jessica, tawana
and the indian jane fonda
eating mr. softies in the shade
a big fat mama in a thong
and a college girl with nothing on
share a laugh over a lemonade
seven foot trannies trading tricks
with business men on pogo sticks
'cause everyone's invited, hip hooray!
a million people realizing that reality
is much more real outside their door than it is on TV
a plethora of specimens have taken to the street
singing "i'm in new york city, don't i look so pretty? hey!"
it's summertime in new york city
and the people aren't just plain old pretty
they're hot as hell, i think i'm gonna faint
even the junkies and the hari krishnas
and the guy who spray-paints solar systems
on the backs of plastic paper plates
it's so hot you could fry an egg
on the back of the pit-bull humping my leg
i kinda like it, what more can i say?
'cept here comes hot dog in her wig
she's three times a lady, sweating like a pig
the sun is shining, everything's okay
a million people realize a smile on someone's face
is even more contagious than West Nile or SARS or AIDS
and what makes people smile more than a big parade
through the streets of new york city where everyone's so pretty
life used to be so shitty, but it's summertime
summertime, summertime, wooooooooo!!!!!!
white man in white pants was dancing
inside out and lost his ass
a little black girl on black rollerblades
found his butt and picked it up
and gave it back and said "hey pops
c'mon down we're having a parade!
c'mon down we're having a parade!
c'mon down we're having a parade!
woohoo! hey!!!"
inside out and lost his ass
a little black girl on black rollerblades
found his butt and picked it up
and gave it back and said: "hey pops,
c'mon down, we're having a parade!"
everybody in this town is turning brown
it's summertime
c'mon down, we're having a parade
don't answer your phone, let it sing
and join the orchestra of rings
that will be our soundtrack for today
a million people realize there's better things to do
than wasting their whole lives being accessible to you
like throwing off their clothes and marching down the avenue
singing "i'm in new york city, don't i look so pretty? hey!"
mike bloomberg and jesse jackson
sit in tompkins square relaxin'
reach a stalemate, start another game
sarah jessica, tawana
and the indian jane fonda
eating mr. softies in the shade
a big fat mama in a thong
and a college girl with nothing on
share a laugh over a lemonade
seven foot trannies trading tricks
with business men on pogo sticks
'cause everyone's invited, hip hooray!
a million people realizing that reality
is much more real outside their door than it is on TV
a plethora of specimens have taken to the street
singing "i'm in new york city, don't i look so pretty? hey!"
it's summertime in new york city
and the people aren't just plain old pretty
they're hot as hell, i think i'm gonna faint
even the junkies and the hari krishnas
and the guy who spray-paints solar systems
on the backs of plastic paper plates
it's so hot you could fry an egg
on the back of the pit-bull humping my leg
i kinda like it, what more can i say?
'cept here comes hot dog in her wig
she's three times a lady, sweating like a pig
the sun is shining, everything's okay
a million people realize a smile on someone's face
is even more contagious than West Nile or SARS or AIDS
and what makes people smile more than a big parade
through the streets of new york city where everyone's so pretty
life used to be so shitty, but it's summertime
summertime, summertime, wooooooooo!!!!!!
white man in white pants was dancing
inside out and lost his ass
a little black girl on black rollerblades
found his butt and picked it up
and gave it back and said "hey pops
c'mon down we're having a parade!
c'mon down we're having a parade!
c'mon down we're having a parade!
woohoo! hey!!!"
Lyrics submitted by delial
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