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.
All the chicks back home are going jump and shout
When they hear old Tricky Dicky's busted out
The guard he was a-sleeping in the noonday sun
Flies was a-buzzin' all around his rabbit gun
I slipped down off the rockpile I was a-working on
When that guard woke up, I was up and gone
Tricky Dicky's sure bust out
Tricky Dicky's sure bust out
Tricky Dicky's sure bust out
Gonna tell old Lucy Brown
Tricky Dicky's a-comin' to town
Headed for the river, I was a movin' yak
The sheriff and his dog were breathin' down my back
That river sure was muddy and it sure was wide
I left that bloodhound barkin' on the other side
Tricky Dicky's sure bust out
Tricky Dicky's sure bust out
Tricky Dicky's sure bust out
Gonna tell old Sally Bligh
Tricky Dicky's a-comin' by
Tricky Dicky you know it's true
That I sit here just a-waitin' for you
Farmer's daughter saw me and she gave me a smile
Thought it wouldn't hurt much if I woah, stopped a while
She sat me on the sofa and she gave me a glass of gin
She got me stoned, she telephoned and woah, turned me in
Tricky Dicky's back in jail
Tricky Dicky's back in jail
Tricky Dicky's back in jail
Tell the girls to weep and wail
Tricky Dicky's a back in jail
When they hear old Tricky Dicky's busted out
The guard he was a-sleeping in the noonday sun
Flies was a-buzzin' all around his rabbit gun
I slipped down off the rockpile I was a-working on
When that guard woke up, I was up and gone
Tricky Dicky's sure bust out
Tricky Dicky's sure bust out
Tricky Dicky's sure bust out
Gonna tell old Lucy Brown
Tricky Dicky's a-comin' to town
Headed for the river, I was a movin' yak
The sheriff and his dog were breathin' down my back
That river sure was muddy and it sure was wide
I left that bloodhound barkin' on the other side
Tricky Dicky's sure bust out
Tricky Dicky's sure bust out
Tricky Dicky's sure bust out
Gonna tell old Sally Bligh
Tricky Dicky's a-comin' by
Tricky Dicky you know it's true
That I sit here just a-waitin' for you
Farmer's daughter saw me and she gave me a smile
Thought it wouldn't hurt much if I woah, stopped a while
She sat me on the sofa and she gave me a glass of gin
She got me stoned, she telephoned and woah, turned me in
Tricky Dicky's back in jail
Tricky Dicky's back in jail
Tricky Dicky's back in jail
Tell the girls to weep and wail
Tricky Dicky's a back in jail
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Tricky Dicky Lyrics as written by Mike Stoller Jerry Leiber
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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