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.
Convict state
It just won't rate
He want to get higher
Apple isle, the inbred smile
He's gonna get by'a
His mother's hand
He could not stand
He left for the islands
To fish and hunt
To take a punt
The new guinea highlands
Chorus
Oh errol I would give
Everything, just to be like him
He had to go
The sirocco
He's sailin' the high seas
Hollywood, captain blood
He's billing the nazi's
Took a rebel stand
With the contraband
Coast of Mexico
He want to pounce
Like an animal
To girls he just can't say no
Chorus
He had them all
Screamin' for more
He play the wild scene
Ah scandalize, no comprise
He's down on his knees
Swashbuckling
He was the king
The toast of tinsel town
They build him up
They took it all
And they just cut him down
Chorus
It just won't rate
He want to get higher
Apple isle, the inbred smile
He's gonna get by'a
His mother's hand
He could not stand
He left for the islands
To fish and hunt
To take a punt
The new guinea highlands
Chorus
Oh errol I would give
Everything, just to be like him
He had to go
The sirocco
He's sailin' the high seas
Hollywood, captain blood
He's billing the nazi's
Took a rebel stand
With the contraband
Coast of Mexico
He want to pounce
Like an animal
To girls he just can't say no
Chorus
He had them all
Screamin' for more
He play the wild scene
Ah scandalize, no comprise
He's down on his knees
Swashbuckling
He was the king
The toast of tinsel town
They build him up
They took it all
And they just cut him down
Chorus
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I guess the meaning is rather self explanatory :P I love this song!!!! And being a Tasmanian myself, lmao at "Convict state It just don't rate He want to get higher Apple Isle, the inbred smile.." So true... :P
The Errol referred to in this song is actually Errol Flynn. He was born in Hobart, Tasmania and moved to Sydney - he was expelled from 2 schools there and so went and bought a tobacco plantation in New Guinea. One ining led to another (somehow) and he began working in movies, his first movie being "Captain Blood" in 1933, and from there-on he was typecast as the swashbuckling romantic hero. He was well known for his womanizing, drinking and brawling. He died of a heart attack in 1959.
Sorry for the history lesson lol I just thought if I explained his life, the song might make a bit more sense =)
@sunshine_arakhan thnx for that info.
There is a sort of half-verse missing here, where James Reyne simply chants, "Don't tell me it's true - I don't want to hear about it." I always assumed this to be a reference to rape allegations that were made against him, especially as the song mention him going to Sirocco, where the allegations of rape were made. In other words, the singer wants to believe in Errol as a casanova-type hero, not a rapist.
@PaulSouth yep, and in the verse that says "he's down on his knees, swashbuckling" refers to a rumour about his open sexual preferences. I guess the song is generally about celebrity and hero worship, where people just ignore the parts they don't want to know about.
@PaulSouth I think Guy McDonough does a better version as Australian Crawl lead vocalist on 'Errol.' Shame he died at 28.
We don't say, "in like Flynn" for no reason :)
Maybe we could do a cover of this classic and perhaps call it Charlie Sheen.. think about it..
He want to pounce Like an animal To girls he just can't say no
WOhhh Charlie sheen I would give everything just to be like him(x2)
He had them all Screamin for more He play the wild scene Ah scandalise, no compromise He's down on his knees Swashbuckling He was the King The toast of Tinseltown They build him up They took it all And then they just cut him down
Well, you'd have to re-imagine the whole song really, but i think you get my point.
I always took the 'don't tell me it's true ...' line to reference his alleged bisexuality