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.
He
In a shopping mall
Finally met the perfect girl
She is all that matters
The only one in all the world
Like a Barbie doll
Oh, love is snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
She
Just to have and hold
Is the perfect air-brushed angel
Breaks your heart just looking at her
Stapled into all his braincells
Like a centerfold
Oh, love is snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom, climb back up
Buy the townhouse (get to the top)
Call the preacher (and slide back down)
Get to the bottom climb back up
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom climb back up
Set up credit for the
Lovely creature (get to the top and slide back down)
The lovely creature (get to the bottom, climb back up)
He
On a corporate climb
Set his sights on power for her
On a silver platter
He gave up happy hour for her
Perrier and lime
Oh, love is snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
She
In a handsome world
Put her mind to social graces
All the privileged chatter
Setting pretty table places
For the girls in pearls
Our love is snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom, climb back up
Buy the carphone (get to the top)
Call the broker (and slide back down)
Get to the bottom, climb back up
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom, climb back up
Buy the wife
A diamond choker (get to the top and slide back down)
A diamond choker (get to the bottom, climb back up)
True love, true love, true love
He's so nervous
New love, new love, new love
When he's with her
Oh, he's wasting away
True love, true love, true love
It's so curious
New love, new love, new love
Just to kiss her
To kiss her, to kiss her, to kiss her
To kiss her, to kiss her, to kiss her
To kiss her, he has to shave
She
In the gilded mirrors
In the swing of fancy places
Where the black ties flatter
Started seeing other faces
Young fogie financiers
Oh, love is snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
See
In the crimes of time
How the seasons steal away
How the rungs are shattered
First you're green, then you're grey
Still the snakes unwind
Still playin' snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom, climb back up
Sell the vineyard (get to the top)
Call the lawyer (and slide back down)
Get to the bottom, climb back up
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom, climb back up
Gather garbage
To destroy her (get to the top and slide back down)
To destroy her (get to the bottom, climb back up)
Ladders, ladders, ladders
The perfect girl
Ladders, ladders, ladders
The paper chase (love is snakes and ladders)
Ladders, ladders, ladders
The social whirl
Ladders, ladders
The rat race (Barbie doll)
Ladders, ladders, ladders
The perfect girl
Ladders, ladders, ladders
The paper chase (love is snakes and ladders)
Ladders, ladders, ladders
The social whirl
Ladders, ladders
The rat race (Barbie doll)
Ladders, ladders, ladders
The perfect girl
Ladders, ladders, ladders
The paper chase (love is snakes and ladders)
Ladders, ladders, ladders
The social whirl
Ladders, ladders
The rat race (Barbie doll)
In a shopping mall
Finally met the perfect girl
She is all that matters
The only one in all the world
Like a Barbie doll
Oh, love is snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
She
Just to have and hold
Is the perfect air-brushed angel
Breaks your heart just looking at her
Stapled into all his braincells
Like a centerfold
Oh, love is snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom, climb back up
Buy the townhouse (get to the top)
Call the preacher (and slide back down)
Get to the bottom climb back up
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom climb back up
Set up credit for the
Lovely creature (get to the top and slide back down)
The lovely creature (get to the bottom, climb back up)
He
On a corporate climb
Set his sights on power for her
On a silver platter
He gave up happy hour for her
Perrier and lime
Oh, love is snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
She
In a handsome world
Put her mind to social graces
All the privileged chatter
Setting pretty table places
For the girls in pearls
Our love is snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom, climb back up
Buy the carphone (get to the top)
Call the broker (and slide back down)
Get to the bottom, climb back up
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom, climb back up
Buy the wife
A diamond choker (get to the top and slide back down)
A diamond choker (get to the bottom, climb back up)
True love, true love, true love
He's so nervous
New love, new love, new love
When he's with her
Oh, he's wasting away
True love, true love, true love
It's so curious
New love, new love, new love
Just to kiss her
To kiss her, to kiss her, to kiss her
To kiss her, to kiss her, to kiss her
To kiss her, he has to shave
She
In the gilded mirrors
In the swing of fancy places
Where the black ties flatter
Started seeing other faces
Young fogie financiers
Oh, love is snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
See
In the crimes of time
How the seasons steal away
How the rungs are shattered
First you're green, then you're grey
Still the snakes unwind
Still playin' snakes and ladders
Snakes and ladders
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom, climb back up
Sell the vineyard (get to the top)
Call the lawyer (and slide back down)
Get to the bottom, climb back up
Get to the top and slide back down
Get to the bottom, climb back up
Gather garbage
To destroy her (get to the top and slide back down)
To destroy her (get to the bottom, climb back up)
Ladders, ladders, ladders
The perfect girl
Ladders, ladders, ladders
The paper chase (love is snakes and ladders)
Ladders, ladders, ladders
The social whirl
Ladders, ladders
The rat race (Barbie doll)
Ladders, ladders, ladders
The perfect girl
Ladders, ladders, ladders
The paper chase (love is snakes and ladders)
Ladders, ladders, ladders
The social whirl
Ladders, ladders
The rat race (Barbie doll)
Ladders, ladders, ladders
The perfect girl
Ladders, ladders, ladders
The paper chase (love is snakes and ladders)
Ladders, ladders, ladders
The social whirl
Ladders, ladders
The rat race (Barbie doll)
Lyrics submitted by just_old_light
Snakes and Ladders Lyrics as written by Larry Klein Joni Mitchell
Lyrics © Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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