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 like your twisted point of view, Mike
I like your questioning eyebrows
You've made it pretty clear what you like
It's only fair to tell you now
I see that kiss-me pucker forming
But maybe you should plug it with a beer, because
Papa was a rodeo
Mama was a rock'n'roll band
I could play guitar and rope a steer
Before I learned to stand
Home was anywhere with diesel gas
Love was a trucker's hand
Never stuck around long enough
For a one night stand
Before you kiss me you should know
Papa was a rodeo
The light reflecting off the mirror ball
Looks like a thousand swirling eyes
They make me think I shouldn't be here at all
You know, every minute someone dies
What are we doing in this dive bar?
How can you live in a place like this?
Why don't you just get into my car
And I'll take you away, I'll take that kiss now, but
(Boy) Papa was a rodeo . . .
And now it's 55 years later
We've had the romance of the century
After all these years wrestling gators
I still feel like crying when I think of what you said to me
Papa was a rodeo . . .
Before you kiss me you should know
Papa was a rodeo
What a coincidence, your Papa was a rodeo too
I like your questioning eyebrows
You've made it pretty clear what you like
It's only fair to tell you now
I see that kiss-me pucker forming
But maybe you should plug it with a beer, because
Papa was a rodeo
Mama was a rock'n'roll band
I could play guitar and rope a steer
Before I learned to stand
Home was anywhere with diesel gas
Love was a trucker's hand
Never stuck around long enough
For a one night stand
Before you kiss me you should know
Papa was a rodeo
The light reflecting off the mirror ball
Looks like a thousand swirling eyes
They make me think I shouldn't be here at all
You know, every minute someone dies
What are we doing in this dive bar?
How can you live in a place like this?
Why don't you just get into my car
And I'll take you away, I'll take that kiss now, but
(Boy) Papa was a rodeo . . .
And now it's 55 years later
We've had the romance of the century
After all these years wrestling gators
I still feel like crying when I think of what you said to me
Papa was a rodeo . . .
Before you kiss me you should know
Papa was a rodeo
What a coincidence, your Papa was a rodeo too
Lyrics submitted by jethrothekid, edited by Mellow_Harsher
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Such a good cover, love the magnetic fields! The guitar in this song is really good too, as are the drums.
And I love the double entendre on the line "love was a truckers hand" meaning truck stop hand jobs, or of course just a handshake or kindness from a fellow trucker on the road.
(before you whine...magnetic fields are known for their homosexually ambivalent lines)