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.
Nice pants
Wait in line for the elevator
Shaking hands
Got a smile like an alligator
Hey chief,
How do you do?
[Yeah.]
Everybody’s evil
And they’re only getting eviler
Like to stop the lockjaw
Feeding on the feebler
I carry it downtown
With a pillar in my pocket
Rocket
I would like you better if you had a job
I would like you better if you had a job
Ooh, that’s right
Son of gun
Son of gun
Son of a gun
Thats quite an attitude
Could you get that notorized?
Tape (tape deck) dictation
Everybody’s funny
But they ain’t getting funnier
My god damn clothes
Couldn’t waste the money-er
Did you-
Did you have fun at the par-tay?
At the office party.
I would like you better if you had a job
Ooh, ooh
I would like you better if you had a job
Aah-woo
Say it again
My friend
But you could’ve been, could’ve been, could’ve been
Ready for idle hands, idle hands
i dont know
I would like you better if you had a job
‘Cause you ain’t no Picasso
I would like you better if you had a job
Ooh that’s right
I would like you better if you had a job
‘Cause you ain’t no Picasso
I would like you better if you had a job
Ooh that’s right
I would like you better if you had a job
‘Cause you ain’t no Picasso
Wait in line for the elevator
Shaking hands
Got a smile like an alligator
Hey chief,
How do you do?
[Yeah.]
Everybody’s evil
And they’re only getting eviler
Like to stop the lockjaw
Feeding on the feebler
I carry it downtown
With a pillar in my pocket
Rocket
I would like you better if you had a job
I would like you better if you had a job
Ooh, that’s right
Son of gun
Son of gun
Son of a gun
Thats quite an attitude
Could you get that notorized?
Tape (tape deck) dictation
Everybody’s funny
But they ain’t getting funnier
My god damn clothes
Couldn’t waste the money-er
Did you-
Did you have fun at the par-tay?
At the office party.
I would like you better if you had a job
Ooh, ooh
I would like you better if you had a job
Aah-woo
Say it again
My friend
But you could’ve been, could’ve been, could’ve been
Ready for idle hands, idle hands
i dont know
I would like you better if you had a job
‘Cause you ain’t no Picasso
I would like you better if you had a job
Ooh that’s right
I would like you better if you had a job
‘Cause you ain’t no Picasso
I would like you better if you had a job
Ooh that’s right
I would like you better if you had a job
‘Cause you ain’t no Picasso
Lyrics submitted by SparklingLemonade
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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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.
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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,
i'm not positive about all of these lyrics, so if anyone IS, leave a comment and i will change it.
From what album this song come out?
i'm not actually sure what album this comes off of. i got it from online from:
youaintnopicasso.com/2007/09/18/bishop-allen-you-aint-no-picasso/
go listen to it. doooo it.
Nice Pants Wait in line for the elevator shakin hands got a smile like an alligator hey cheif how do you do, yeah
....
son of a gun thats quite an attitude could you get that notorized? tape (tape deck) dictation
....
Say it again My friend But you could’ve been, could’ve been, could’ve been for idle hands, idle hands, idle hands i dont know
.....