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.
Here comes the Captain and his men,
Brave little soldiers under ten,
Dishpans, broomsticks all in view,
Here comes the Captain and his crew!
See that commander, how he struts,
Followed by the neighbors' barking mutts,
What a commotion, biff, boom, bang!
Here comes the Captain and his gang!
The first in line is Private Brown,
Cute little patches fallin' down,
Tramp, tramp, tramp as they go along,
Tramp, tramp, tramp, there must be somethin' wrong!
Here comes the Captain and his men,
Followed by his hungry men,
The meals are served and the prayers are said,
There goes the Captain off to bed!
Ice cream is his favorite dish,
He breaks a chicken bone and he makes a wish,
Ice cream is his favorite dish,
But how he really goes for fish!
Bump-ditty-ump-doo-ee, went the Captain,
Bump-ditty-ump-doo-ee, went the Captain,
Bump-ditty-ump-doo-ee, went the Captain,
There goes the Captain off to bed.
Bump-ditty-ump-doo-ee, went the Captain,
Now I lay me down to sleep,
A bag of peanuts at my feet,
If I should die before I wake,
You know I died with a tummy-ache,
There goes the Captain off to bed,
There goes the Captain off to bed!
Brave little soldiers under ten,
Dishpans, broomsticks all in view,
Here comes the Captain and his crew!
See that commander, how he struts,
Followed by the neighbors' barking mutts,
What a commotion, biff, boom, bang!
Here comes the Captain and his gang!
The first in line is Private Brown,
Cute little patches fallin' down,
Tramp, tramp, tramp as they go along,
Tramp, tramp, tramp, there must be somethin' wrong!
Here comes the Captain and his men,
Followed by his hungry men,
The meals are served and the prayers are said,
There goes the Captain off to bed!
Ice cream is his favorite dish,
He breaks a chicken bone and he makes a wish,
Ice cream is his favorite dish,
But how he really goes for fish!
Bump-ditty-ump-doo-ee, went the Captain,
Bump-ditty-ump-doo-ee, went the Captain,
Bump-ditty-ump-doo-ee, went the Captain,
There goes the Captain off to bed.
Bump-ditty-ump-doo-ee, went the Captain,
Now I lay me down to sleep,
A bag of peanuts at my feet,
If I should die before I wake,
You know I died with a tummy-ache,
There goes the Captain off to bed,
There goes the Captain off to bed!
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
The Captain and His Men Lyrics as written by Joe Carroll Cliff Allen
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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
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”
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.