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.
This is life in this world
Some things go right, some things go wrong
This is how the world can be
People just wanna be free
Yeah
The verdict came in and it said I was guilty
I looked at the judge, "Hey, America built me"
Tried to get rich, but they label me filthy
Only God can judge me, touch me, feel me
My friend calls me at nine o'clock
Says, "Get the car, it's time to rock"
Never heard him speak this way (way, way)
Let's go man
I grab the keys and hit the road
It's all a flash, but who would know
How this story would unfold
Don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time
Don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time
Don't charge me for the crime
My friend gets in the car with bags
Filled to the top with loads of cash
(See this paper right here?) And throws the pistol on the dash
(Yeah, it's time to get money now)
Says, "I'm sorry for the crime
That I've involved you in this time
You're the only friend I've got"
So don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time
Don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time, uh
Don't charge me for the crime
I start to freak and scream so loud
Just like the females in the crowd
That's when he gets in my head
(Come on man, we gotta do this)
You could live just like a king
With everything you'd ever need
All the dreams of every man
Don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time, uh, yeah
Don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time, you know, uh
Don't charge me
Sirens sound and my heart was poundin'
I looked at my man as the cops surround 'em
A teen on the scene with no objective
The American dream can be so deceptive
Now I see the flashing lights
There goes my future and my life
Now I've gotta do what's right
(Oh, man, they've got us, they've got us)
I stop the car and throw the keys
Out of the window, sets me free
I throw the pistol in the back
(Ah, ah, ah)
Throw him out of the car, I say
You know me well, I'm not goin' to jail
I'm not paying your bail
Believe me when I say
They won't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time (yeah)
Don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time
Won't charge me, yeah
Wrong place
Wrong time, ha, ha
Wrong place, uh, ah
Wrong time
Won't charge me for the (crime)
Some things go right, some things go wrong
This is how the world can be
People just wanna be free
Yeah
The verdict came in and it said I was guilty
I looked at the judge, "Hey, America built me"
Tried to get rich, but they label me filthy
Only God can judge me, touch me, feel me
My friend calls me at nine o'clock
Says, "Get the car, it's time to rock"
Never heard him speak this way (way, way)
Let's go man
I grab the keys and hit the road
It's all a flash, but who would know
How this story would unfold
Don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time
Don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time
Don't charge me for the crime
My friend gets in the car with bags
Filled to the top with loads of cash
(See this paper right here?) And throws the pistol on the dash
(Yeah, it's time to get money now)
Says, "I'm sorry for the crime
That I've involved you in this time
You're the only friend I've got"
So don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time
Don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time, uh
Don't charge me for the crime
I start to freak and scream so loud
Just like the females in the crowd
That's when he gets in my head
(Come on man, we gotta do this)
You could live just like a king
With everything you'd ever need
All the dreams of every man
Don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time, uh, yeah
Don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time, you know, uh
Don't charge me
Sirens sound and my heart was poundin'
I looked at my man as the cops surround 'em
A teen on the scene with no objective
The American dream can be so deceptive
Now I see the flashing lights
There goes my future and my life
Now I've gotta do what's right
(Oh, man, they've got us, they've got us)
I stop the car and throw the keys
Out of the window, sets me free
I throw the pistol in the back
(Ah, ah, ah)
Throw him out of the car, I say
You know me well, I'm not goin' to jail
I'm not paying your bail
Believe me when I say
They won't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time (yeah)
Don't charge me for the crime
Wrong place, wrong time
Won't charge me, yeah
Wrong place
Wrong time, ha, ha
Wrong place, uh, ah
Wrong time
Won't charge me for the (crime)
Lyrics submitted by thoseguiltyeyes
Don't Charge Me for the Crime Lyrics as written by Joseph Jonas Lonnie Lynn
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, REACH MUSIC PUBLISHING, KAREN SCHAUBEN PUBLISHING ADMINISTRATION
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I like this song. It tells a good story. I listened to it because Common was on it. Idk why, but it makes me laugh a little.
I laugh too!!!!!<br /> =)