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.
Oh when I die and it won't be long
Hey you're gonna be sorry that you treated me wrong
Yeah you're gonna be sorry that you treated me bad
Hey and if there's an after life I'll gloat and I'll be glad
Might be a plane crash, or some sort of OD
Hey there's going to be a photograph with my obituary
You're gonna see it and you'll cry
You're gonna wanna wear black
Hey I'll be dead but you can bet your life, I'm gonna get you back
I'm tired of being left up on your shelf
I might not wait around, might kill myself
Not only would you miss me, but you'd feel guilty to
Oh I'd be dead but it'd be too late the joke would be on you.
(sing-a-long)
Ha ha ha ha, ho ho ho ho
Chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle
Snigger snigger snigger snigger
Guffaw Guffaw Guffaw Guffaw Guffaw Guffaw
Yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk
So you better take warning, start treating me good
Start doing the things that I think you should
And you better not pout and no you better not cry
The grim reaper is a-comin' to town and I just might die
Hey you're gonna be sorry that you treated me wrong
Yeah you're gonna be sorry that you treated me bad
Hey and if there's an after life I'll gloat and I'll be glad
Might be a plane crash, or some sort of OD
Hey there's going to be a photograph with my obituary
You're gonna see it and you'll cry
You're gonna wanna wear black
Hey I'll be dead but you can bet your life, I'm gonna get you back
I'm tired of being left up on your shelf
I might not wait around, might kill myself
Not only would you miss me, but you'd feel guilty to
Oh I'd be dead but it'd be too late the joke would be on you.
(sing-a-long)
Ha ha ha ha, ho ho ho ho
Chuckle chuckle chuckle chuckle
Snigger snigger snigger snigger
Guffaw Guffaw Guffaw Guffaw Guffaw Guffaw
Yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk yuk
So you better take warning, start treating me good
Start doing the things that I think you should
And you better not pout and no you better not cry
The grim reaper is a-comin' to town and I just might die
Lyrics submitted by kaleidoscope_eye
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