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.
Now the Devil was in my yard then
But the Devil ain't in my yard no more
Now the Devil was in my car then
But the Devil ain't in my car no more
How long, long girl? How long?
How long 'till you know that?
How long, long girl? How long?
How long?
Devil was in my yard then
But the Devil ain't in my yard no more
Now the Devil was in my car then
But the Devil ain't in my car no more
I'm gonna make it
I'm gonna make it
But whenever I break you I will not see you
But whenever I break you I will not see you
I'm gonna make it
I'm gonna make it
But whenever I break you I will not see you
But whenever I break you I will not see you
But whenever I break you I will not see you
But whenever I break you I will not see you
Oh, Devil was in my yard
Oh, Devil was in my yard
But the Devil ain't in my yard no more
Now the Devil was in my car then
But the Devil ain't in my car no more
How long, long girl? How long?
How long 'till you know that?
How long, long girl? How long?
How long?
Devil was in my yard then
But the Devil ain't in my yard no more
Now the Devil was in my car then
But the Devil ain't in my car no more
I'm gonna make it
I'm gonna make it
But whenever I break you I will not see you
But whenever I break you I will not see you
I'm gonna make it
I'm gonna make it
But whenever I break you I will not see you
But whenever I break you I will not see you
But whenever I break you I will not see you
But whenever I break you I will not see you
Oh, Devil was in my yard
Oh, Devil was in my yard
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Mmm, boy, Luke Steele continues to be positively hot. This, I feel, is a rather interesting song. I'm not sure what it actually means but I enjoy singing about the devil supposedly being in my yard. hot song, hot Luke Steele, hot band really.
Lotus, you've got your finger on the pulse my friend. Its about saying "Look I was a tool, and I did all this dumb stuff, but I'm alright now... for the most part" but its cheeky enough to try and blame everyone else 'the devil made me do it'.
I love it. Mostly because the devil makes me do all kinds of crap and this just soundtracks too well.
I don't think its blaming the devil exactly, I think Luke is using the Devil as a metaphor. Often Personality seems like one big song to me, all the songs linked into one idea, one concept. I think Devil Was In My Yard is really closely linked to Higher Than Hell.
In terms of this song alone, I'd say Daneonfire is pretty much right. He's explaining, using the metaphor of the devil, that he is no longer that person. The devil is evil obviously, and evil was dwelling in his yard, in other words his proximity. Now the devil is gone, he's ok. Like the lines 'I'm going to make it'. The only thing is, this 'girl' doesn't understand. He is impatiently asked, 'How long girl, how long, how long 'til you know that?', Like, what more could I possibly do to convince you I'm a good guy and I'm done with all that stuff? What more proof do I need to give you?
I personally think in this song, the speaker is Luke Steele himself, saying that the devil isn't in his yard anymore, or that he's done with a part of his life he isn't proud of. Drugs, maybe?
The biography on the Sleepy Jacksons website also offers some insite into songs like Devil Was In My Yard on the Personality album-
"It was only after Id worked on the songs for a while that I realized they were all to do with the conflicting sides of my personality explains Luke. When they first come to me they seem to be about specific incidents to do with our last manager and things in the band going haywire. But after a while they go into another realm. I realised they were more to do with the spiritual conflict between God and the Devil. I surprised myself with how angry and intense they were. But I like that paradox; uplifting tunes with these lyrics about struggle and resolution."
What I like about this song, lyrically, is that, unlike other Sleepy Jackson songs, its very straight forward in its meaning. Normally I like to have to delve a little deeper, but with this song I appreciate the fact that all the metaphors are quite direct.
Nice one, EngineDriver...i like to hear stuff from the horse's mouth and this horse is Luke Steele hisself. What was the devil doing in the yard though? The garden? I totally love Luke's fucked up singing on this.