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.
Nothing is crueler than children who come from good homes
Gotta forgive them, I guess, but whose side are you on?
Driving around my hometown, I remember it all
Dropping my lunch box and Tampax all over the hall
And they said
You are a socialist coke head, we know from your clothes
You are a Satanist worshiper, oh, that's evil
You think you're poet, a folksinger, your a poser
A volleyball player? you've got to be kidding us all
[Chorus]
So we hide from the cunts
On a night reconnaissance
Steal flamingos and gnomes
From the dark side of the lawn
No one can stop us
The script is a work of genius
No one has bought the rights yet but
We're not giving up
Every unwanted lawn jockey fits in the script
Directed by Spielberg and starring the masochist club
Marion looked like hell
Stuck in that ridicules shell
Give us some light and god's pure love
We know what you've been dreaming of
Give us some light and god's pure love
We know what you've been dreaming of
Give us some light and god's pure love
We know what you've been dreaming of
We're taking you to Hollywood
Hollywood
[Chorus]
One is a socialist cock-head they dressed in my clothes
One is a Satanist worshiping who's evil
One is a poet who starts up a band of his own
One is a volleyball player with both of her wrists broke
[Chorus]
And we give them good homes
Give them love they've never known
In the loft, in the lawn,
In the town where I was born
In the loft, in the bar,
In the town where I was born
Gotta forgive them, I guess, but whose side are you on?
Driving around my hometown, I remember it all
Dropping my lunch box and Tampax all over the hall
And they said
You are a socialist coke head, we know from your clothes
You are a Satanist worshiper, oh, that's evil
You think you're poet, a folksinger, your a poser
A volleyball player? you've got to be kidding us all
[Chorus]
So we hide from the cunts
On a night reconnaissance
Steal flamingos and gnomes
From the dark side of the lawn
No one can stop us
The script is a work of genius
No one has bought the rights yet but
We're not giving up
Every unwanted lawn jockey fits in the script
Directed by Spielberg and starring the masochist club
Marion looked like hell
Stuck in that ridicules shell
Give us some light and god's pure love
We know what you've been dreaming of
Give us some light and god's pure love
We know what you've been dreaming of
Give us some light and god's pure love
We know what you've been dreaming of
We're taking you to Hollywood
Hollywood
[Chorus]
One is a socialist cock-head they dressed in my clothes
One is a Satanist worshiping who's evil
One is a poet who starts up a band of his own
One is a volleyball player with both of her wrists broke
[Chorus]
And we give them good homes
Give them love they've never known
In the loft, in the lawn,
In the town where I was born
In the loft, in the bar,
In the town where I was born
Lyrics submitted by marquicerise, edited by UkuleleZe8
Night Reconnaissance Lyrics as written by Amanda Palmer
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
I love this song to death! literally!
I think that this song is about social outcasts. And how amanda got made fun of because the way she was dressed. And that it was "always greener on the other side" type of deal with this part:
So we hide from the cunts On a night reconnaissance Steal flamingos and gnomes From the dark side of the lawn
Thats what I think what do others think!
(if you havent heard this song its on youtube.com (go here: youtube.com/watch)!!!! do eet)