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.
I dreamed of a devil last night..
He tempted me with a wicked tongue and a rough hand
Said it's alright honey, it's alright..
You can leave that man
When I woke my head was spinning
As I recall all of the things he said
Made me feel less of a woman..
Making me feel like a whore instead, and I.
I won't be going to my grave
Yeah yeah yeah eeey..
I got a lot to live for..
I won't be rocking in my faith
Yeah yeah yeah eeey..
I got a lot to hope for
I dreamed of a Devil last night
Amazing such little things
can get in your head
Said it's alright honey it's alright..
You can stay in my bed,
stay in my bed
Stay your in my
No no no no NO, OOH..
I'm not going to my grave
Yeah yeah yeah eeey..
I got a lot to live for..
I wont be rocking in my faith
Yeah yeah yeah eeey..
I got a lot to hope for
I'm not going to my grave
Yeah yeah yeah eeey..
I got a lot to live for....
Little children
Go in circles
He will sing you lullabies..
Little children
Rest your heads
No more monsters
No more devils
You are not who the wicked call you
You and peace and strong and joy..
And pure and peace and strong and joy..
(Instrumental)
Whuuuu'uuu'uuu.. Ooooh'ooo'ooo.. Oh, yeah.. Whuuuu'uuu'uuu...
All you little children.. Laalaa'laaa'aaaa.... (x3)
Haaaa'aaaaaa.. Oh.. You little children..
Laalaa'laaa'aaaa.... (x3) Oohh'ooo'ooo..
Ohh.. You wished you cared..
Laaaalaaaaa'aaa'aa..
(Instrumental)
Oohh....
He tempted me with a wicked tongue and a rough hand
Said it's alright honey, it's alright..
You can leave that man
When I woke my head was spinning
As I recall all of the things he said
Made me feel less of a woman..
Making me feel like a whore instead, and I.
I won't be going to my grave
Yeah yeah yeah eeey..
I got a lot to live for..
I won't be rocking in my faith
Yeah yeah yeah eeey..
I got a lot to hope for
I dreamed of a Devil last night
Amazing such little things
can get in your head
Said it's alright honey it's alright..
You can stay in my bed,
stay in my bed
Stay your in my
No no no no NO, OOH..
I'm not going to my grave
Yeah yeah yeah eeey..
I got a lot to live for..
I wont be rocking in my faith
Yeah yeah yeah eeey..
I got a lot to hope for
I'm not going to my grave
Yeah yeah yeah eeey..
I got a lot to live for....
Little children
Go in circles
He will sing you lullabies..
Little children
Rest your heads
No more monsters
No more devils
You are not who the wicked call you
You and peace and strong and joy..
And pure and peace and strong and joy..
(Instrumental)
Whuuuu'uuu'uuu.. Ooooh'ooo'ooo.. Oh, yeah.. Whuuuu'uuu'uuu...
All you little children.. Laalaa'laaa'aaaa.... (x3)
Haaaa'aaaaaa.. Oh.. You little children..
Laalaa'laaa'aaaa.... (x3) Oohh'ooo'ooo..
Ohh.. You wished you cared..
Laaaalaaaaa'aaa'aa..
(Instrumental)
Oohh....
Lyrics submitted by SMUSER17286217
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I think this song can have many different meanings depending on the context you decide to interpret it with. On the one hand there are very strong Christian themes within the song seen with the beginning imagery of a devil tempting someone to leave "that man," who could with this interpretation could be Jesus or God. Then the song moves into an up tempo revolt against that temptation with the declaration that:
I'm not going to my grave, I've got a lot to live for, I'm not rocking in my faith I've got a lot to hope for
So it becomes a song about triumphing over that temptation which was trying to rock that person's faith. And then at the end the song becomes almost a lullaby which invokes a sense of innocence and protection, sort of calling to that innocence inside all of us that is so evident when we are children but becomes buried when we are adults. This is further heightened by the very end of the song, which isn't included here, where the beginning verse of the children's game/song "Miss Mary Mac" is sung as the song ends.
I also think that the song can be viewed from a different viewpoint that doesn't necessarily have religious tones, it could be talking about a marriage or relationship and the struggles with temptation that are involved or even just struggles with temptation in every day life. I think that no matter they way one interprets the song though it is definitely uplifting and holds a really positive message about hope and faith and conquering obstacles.