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.
Knock on the door
And the door knocks back
The joke never go no further than that
Fire goes back inside the match
Back down the stack
And we hustle and cuss
Lick on the dust
Hustle and cuss
Lick on the dust
And we hustle and cuss
Hustle and cuss and lick on the dust
Hustle and cuss
Hustle and cuss and lick on the dust
Must you muscle and fuss?
You muscle and fuss
And lick on the dust
Hustle and cuss
Hustle and cuss and lick on the dust
When we were young
A different kind of fun
Playing in the mud
It meant something else
Now we hustle and cuss
Hustle and cuss
And we hustle and cuss
Hustle and cuss and lick on the dust
Hustle and cuss
Hustle and cuss and lick on the dust
Must we muscle and fuss?
You muscle and fuss
And lick on the dust
Hustle and cuss
Hustle and cuss and lick on the dust
You're easy to fool and easy to catch
And I don't know if I want you to
Match my bets
And we hustle and cuss
Lick on the dust
Hustle and cuss
Lick on the dust
And we hustle and cuss
Hustle and cuss and lick on the dust
Hustle and cuss
Hustle and cuss and lick on the dust
Must you muscle and fuss?
Hustle and cuss
Muscle and fuss
Muscle and fuss
And lick on the dust
And the door knocks back
The joke never go no further than that
Fire goes back inside the match
Back down the stack
And we hustle and cuss
Lick on the dust
Hustle and cuss
Lick on the dust
And we hustle and cuss
Hustle and cuss and lick on the dust
Hustle and cuss
Hustle and cuss and lick on the dust
Must you muscle and fuss?
You muscle and fuss
And lick on the dust
Hustle and cuss
Hustle and cuss and lick on the dust
When we were young
A different kind of fun
Playing in the mud
It meant something else
Now we hustle and cuss
Hustle and cuss
And we hustle and cuss
Hustle and cuss and lick on the dust
Hustle and cuss
Hustle and cuss and lick on the dust
Must we muscle and fuss?
You muscle and fuss
And lick on the dust
Hustle and cuss
Hustle and cuss and lick on the dust
You're easy to fool and easy to catch
And I don't know if I want you to
Match my bets
And we hustle and cuss
Lick on the dust
Hustle and cuss
Lick on the dust
And we hustle and cuss
Hustle and cuss and lick on the dust
Hustle and cuss
Hustle and cuss and lick on the dust
Must you muscle and fuss?
Hustle and cuss
Muscle and fuss
Muscle and fuss
And lick on the dust
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
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,
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
Not sure about this. I can't believe nobody's commented, this is a great song.
I can only think of an intepretation for the second verse "when we were young/ a different kind of fun/playing in the mud/it meant something else" I think it's about sexualisation. You lose your innocence and get a dirty mind, basically.