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.
Night people, hanging out
Looking at each other Waiting for something to happen
Night people, hanging out
Looking at each other
Waiting for something to happen
While the day world is sleeping
Night people are creeping, hanging out
Looking at each other
When the day world stops moving
Night people start grooving, hanging out
Looking at each other
When the day bees stop buzzing
Night people start coming, hanging out
Waiting for something to happen
Night people , hanging out
Looking at each other
Waiting for something to happen
You don't get one thing
Without the other
We got to keep the world alive
If everybody went to sleep
At the same time,
How'd we keep the world alive
In a word we got the night people,
Night people, hanging out
Looking at each other
Waiting for something to happen
Got to see who is with you
Who is with me, who is with who, we're hanging out
Looking at each other
Got to see whatcha wearing, whatcha got
Whatcha sharing , hanging out
Waiting for something to happen
As the day world goes by
Night people doing fine, hanging out
Looking at each other
When the day world starts humping
Night people start pumping, hanging out
Waiting for something to happen
Night people hanging out
Looking at each other
Waiting for something to happen
Night people, hanging out
Looking at each other
Waiting for something to happen
Night people grooving , hanging out
Night people grooving
Night people grooving
Night people grooving
Night people grooving
Night people grooving
Looking at each other Waiting for something to happen
Night people, hanging out
Looking at each other
Waiting for something to happen
While the day world is sleeping
Night people are creeping, hanging out
Looking at each other
When the day world stops moving
Night people start grooving, hanging out
Looking at each other
When the day bees stop buzzing
Night people start coming, hanging out
Waiting for something to happen
Night people , hanging out
Looking at each other
Waiting for something to happen
You don't get one thing
Without the other
We got to keep the world alive
If everybody went to sleep
At the same time,
How'd we keep the world alive
In a word we got the night people,
Night people, hanging out
Looking at each other
Waiting for something to happen
Got to see who is with you
Who is with me, who is with who, we're hanging out
Looking at each other
Got to see whatcha wearing, whatcha got
Whatcha sharing , hanging out
Waiting for something to happen
As the day world goes by
Night people doing fine, hanging out
Looking at each other
When the day world starts humping
Night people start pumping, hanging out
Waiting for something to happen
Night people hanging out
Looking at each other
Waiting for something to happen
Night people, hanging out
Looking at each other
Waiting for something to happen
Night people grooving , hanging out
Night people grooving
Night people grooving
Night people grooving
Night people grooving
Night people grooving
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Night People Lyrics as written by Allen Toussaint
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
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
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.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
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.