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.
I've got a little piece of paper with your name written on it
Got a head full of attitude and nowhere to put it
Tell me: why don't you come down to Rue Morgue Avenue?
Why don't you come down?
Soil your pretty feet on the dirty ground of Rue Morgue Avenue
Well, there's a chapel on the corner where I'm doing my crying
There's a limit to my patience, what'd ya say, Fay, let's get married
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
They say the world keeps on turning, and everything remains the same
Well, my heart's burning, and I say everything must change
Why don't you come down to Rue Morgue Avenue?
Why don't you come down?
Soil your pretty feet on the dirty ground of Rue Morgue Avenue
Rue Morgue avenue
Rita-Mae, tell your sister she's unkind
Tell your sister
Well, I don't mind
Tell your sister, she's got mine
Why don't you come down?
Soil your pretty feet on the dirty ground
I got a four letter word; starts with the letter "l"
Can't bring myself to say it 'cause it's making my life hell
Why don't you come down to Rue Morgue Avenue?
'Cause I've been drinking all night and all day
Just trying to picture your sweet face
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
Rita-Mae, tell your sister she's unkind
Tell your sister
Well, I don't mind
Tell your sister
She knows where
Where I lie
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
Down on...
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
Got a head full of attitude and nowhere to put it
Tell me: why don't you come down to Rue Morgue Avenue?
Why don't you come down?
Soil your pretty feet on the dirty ground of Rue Morgue Avenue
Well, there's a chapel on the corner where I'm doing my crying
There's a limit to my patience, what'd ya say, Fay, let's get married
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
They say the world keeps on turning, and everything remains the same
Well, my heart's burning, and I say everything must change
Why don't you come down to Rue Morgue Avenue?
Why don't you come down?
Soil your pretty feet on the dirty ground of Rue Morgue Avenue
Rue Morgue avenue
Rita-Mae, tell your sister she's unkind
Tell your sister
Well, I don't mind
Tell your sister, she's got mine
Why don't you come down?
Soil your pretty feet on the dirty ground
I got a four letter word; starts with the letter "l"
Can't bring myself to say it 'cause it's making my life hell
Why don't you come down to Rue Morgue Avenue?
'Cause I've been drinking all night and all day
Just trying to picture your sweet face
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
Rita-Mae, tell your sister she's unkind
Tell your sister
Well, I don't mind
Tell your sister
She knows where
Where I lie
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
Down on...
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
Down on Rue Morgue Avenue
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Tell Your Sister Lyrics as written by Lloyd Cole
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"Rue Morgue Avenue" kinda bugged me the first time I heard this song, since "Rue Morgue" is not just a reference to the Edgar Allan Poe story, "The Murders In The Rue Morgue," but also in French the word "Rue" means "Street." So it initially annoyed me that Lloyd Cole, who doubtless knew better, was saying (in translation) "Morgue Street Avenue."
But I soon discovered, since I hadn't yet been immersed in Dylan, that Cole is paying homage to a line from "Just Like Tom Thumb's Blues." Which is:
Don't put on any airs when you're down on Rue Morgue Avenue
Somehow the fact that he's riffing in a way on a Dylan lyric made this okay, for me.