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.
And if one day I should become
A singer with a Spanish bum
Who sings for women of great virtue
I'd sing to them with a guitar
I borrowed from a coffee bar
Well, what you don't know doesn't hurt you
My name would be Antonio
And all my bridges I would burn
And when I gave them some they'd know
I'd expect something in return
I'd have to get drunk every night
And talk about virility
With some old grandmama
That might be decked out like a Christmas tree
And though pink elephants I'd see
Though I'd be drunk as I could be
Still I would sing my song to me
About the time they called me "Jackie"
If I could be for only an hour
If I could be for an hour every day
If I could be for just one little hour
A cute cute, in a stupid-ass way
And if I joined the social whirl
Became procurer of young girls
Then I would have my own bordellos
My record would be number one
And I'd sell records by the ton
All sung by many other fellows
My name would then be handsome Jack
And I'd sell boats of opium
Whiskey that came from Twickenham
Authentic queers and phony virgins
If I had banks on every finger
A finger in every country
And all the countries ruled by me
I'd still know where I'd want to be
Locked up inside my opium den
Surrounded by some china men
I'd sing the song that I sang then
About the time they called me "Jackie"
If I could be for only an hour
If I could be for an hour every day
If I could be for just one little hour
A cute cute, in a stupid-ass way
Now, tell me, wouldn't it be nice
That if one day in paradise
I'd sing for all the ladies up there
And they would sing along with me
And we be so happy there to be
'Cause down below is really nowhere
And if my name were Juniper
Then I would know where I was going
And then I would become all knowing
My beard so very long and flowing
If I became deaf, dumb and blind
Because I pitied all mankind
And broke my heart to make things right
I'd know that every single night
When my angelic work was through
The angels and the Devil too
Would sing my childhood song to me
About the time they called me "Jackie"
If I could be for only an hour
If I could be for an hour every day
If I could be for just one little hour
A cute cute, in a stupid-ass way
A singer with a Spanish bum
Who sings for women of great virtue
I'd sing to them with a guitar
I borrowed from a coffee bar
Well, what you don't know doesn't hurt you
My name would be Antonio
And all my bridges I would burn
And when I gave them some they'd know
I'd expect something in return
I'd have to get drunk every night
And talk about virility
With some old grandmama
That might be decked out like a Christmas tree
And though pink elephants I'd see
Though I'd be drunk as I could be
Still I would sing my song to me
About the time they called me "Jackie"
If I could be for only an hour
If I could be for an hour every day
If I could be for just one little hour
A cute cute, in a stupid-ass way
And if I joined the social whirl
Became procurer of young girls
Then I would have my own bordellos
My record would be number one
And I'd sell records by the ton
All sung by many other fellows
My name would then be handsome Jack
And I'd sell boats of opium
Whiskey that came from Twickenham
Authentic queers and phony virgins
If I had banks on every finger
A finger in every country
And all the countries ruled by me
I'd still know where I'd want to be
Locked up inside my opium den
Surrounded by some china men
I'd sing the song that I sang then
About the time they called me "Jackie"
If I could be for only an hour
If I could be for an hour every day
If I could be for just one little hour
A cute cute, in a stupid-ass way
Now, tell me, wouldn't it be nice
That if one day in paradise
I'd sing for all the ladies up there
And they would sing along with me
And we be so happy there to be
'Cause down below is really nowhere
And if my name were Juniper
Then I would know where I was going
And then I would become all knowing
My beard so very long and flowing
If I became deaf, dumb and blind
Because I pitied all mankind
And broke my heart to make things right
I'd know that every single night
When my angelic work was through
The angels and the Devil too
Would sing my childhood song to me
About the time they called me "Jackie"
If I could be for only an hour
If I could be for an hour every day
If I could be for just one little hour
A cute cute, in a stupid-ass way
Lyrics submitted by ilse, edited by newhaircut
Jackie Lyrics as written by Scott Thomas
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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The song is basically about Jacques Brel according to Jacques Brel and his views of success being fleeting and not permanent....he wants to be reminded of his past ("and the time they called me 'Jackie.').
I have always wondered what would happen if someone went on American Idol and sang this song....basically, giving a middle finger to the whole 'manufactured pop music' image the show represents and this song talks about.
@GuyinGA <br /> <br /> "basically, giving a middle finger to the whole 'manufactured pop music' image the show represents and this song talks about."<br /> <br /> Exactly that. Glorious.<br />
I have regrets but I can just about live with my past. Just not all of the time...
This song's just amazing. After a bottle of wine or two it sounds even better. Something to do with Jacques Brel I think, but very, very daring for it's time. For those that don't know, Scott Walker was in one of the biggest boy bands of his day (The Walker Brothers) but turned his back on the whole lifestyle to become a recluse and make the music he wanted to. This is one of the best. The decadence and bravado of the lyrics rollock along to a thunderous, cantering burlesque horn section. Great to watch porn to. I know what all the different references are but am not sure of the thread that holds them together. Anyone know?
Boy speculates about a drunken, debauched, sleazy or dead future for himself where he will recall the present, his glory days, the time they called him Jacky, and will yearn then for what he presently finds shallow. Like someone else said, a brilliant reflection on the fleeting nature of fame.