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.
Well
Get down
Nah nah
Hi yah hi hi hi
Ah yah ha
Hey
(Let your hair down) Oh, doctor and lawyer
(Get up) and let your reputation sit a while
Hey hey (let your hair down)
Hey, mister businessman (let it down)
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
Hey mister businessman you're always on the go
You've made your fortune
Yet you're working harder than ever before
All those pills you're taking daily will never see you through
'Cause none of them are prescribed for what's really ailing you (let it down)
It don't take no doctor long to see what you got, well
Your life has turned into one great big knot
Hey yay hey now
(Let your hair down)
Can you let it down?
Let it down, let it down, aww
(Get up) and let your reputation sit a while
Hey (let your hair down)
Don't you ever be ashamed of what you're doin' (let it down)
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, hey hey hey
How do you do, Mr. Ditty?
Uptight you look such a pity
I've got some advice for you
Take this record in your room
Lock the door, and get some groove
Let it down (let it down)
Let your hair down (let it down)
Ay hey
(Let it down, let it down, let it all the way down)
All you got to do is let the music take your mind
Show your partners
Anything they can do, you can do better
(Anything they can do, you can do better) well, well, well, well
This is the part of the song where the horns take the throne
Down (blow) dih down down hey
Let it down, let it down, hey
Let it down, let it down, hey
Let it down, let it down
Hey, let it down
Let your hair down
Hey doctors and lawyers
(Get up) and let your reputation sit a while
Hey hey (let your hair down)
Hey, mister businessman (let it down)
Don't you know, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
Hey ay hey (let your hair down)
Let it down, let it down, let it down, let it down
(Get up) and let your reputation sit a while, do it
Get down
Nah nah
Hi yah hi hi hi
Ah yah ha
Hey
(Let your hair down) Oh, doctor and lawyer
(Get up) and let your reputation sit a while
Hey hey (let your hair down)
Hey, mister businessman (let it down)
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
Hey mister businessman you're always on the go
You've made your fortune
Yet you're working harder than ever before
All those pills you're taking daily will never see you through
'Cause none of them are prescribed for what's really ailing you (let it down)
It don't take no doctor long to see what you got, well
Your life has turned into one great big knot
Hey yay hey now
(Let your hair down)
Can you let it down?
Let it down, let it down, aww
(Get up) and let your reputation sit a while
Hey (let your hair down)
Don't you ever be ashamed of what you're doin' (let it down)
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy, hey hey hey
How do you do, Mr. Ditty?
Uptight you look such a pity
I've got some advice for you
Take this record in your room
Lock the door, and get some groove
Let it down (let it down)
Let your hair down (let it down)
Ay hey
(Let it down, let it down, let it all the way down)
All you got to do is let the music take your mind
Show your partners
Anything they can do, you can do better
(Anything they can do, you can do better) well, well, well, well
This is the part of the song where the horns take the throne
Down (blow) dih down down hey
Let it down, let it down, hey
Let it down, let it down, hey
Let it down, let it down
Hey, let it down
Let your hair down
Hey doctors and lawyers
(Get up) and let your reputation sit a while
Hey hey (let your hair down)
Hey, mister businessman (let it down)
Don't you know, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
Hey ay hey (let your hair down)
Let it down, let it down, let it down, let it down
(Get up) and let your reputation sit a while, do it
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Let Your Hair Down Lyrics as written by Norman J. Whitfield Norman Whitfield
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."