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.
We laid around Dogtown a summer ago
Good ol' man winter was fresh out of snow
When the leaves had left town
She followed them out
Running from rural and cold
I told her I'd visit
If the roads didn't close
The clouds opened up
And then down came the snow
And the days turned to weeks
And the weeks felt like months
Burning ol' memories and anthracite coal
And I hung out in Dogtown too long once again
Winter time draws me back in
All the birds have flown south
And the gold's come and gone
And I hung out in Dogtown too long
Sometimes I wonder why I stick around
Even the cathouse has long been torn down
And how many dog years does a man have to kill
To know there's no luck or love left in these hills
And I hung out in Dogtown too long
Setting like warm solstice sun
All the gold's turned to green and birds have flown home
And I hung out in Dogtown too long
A face I remember from so long ago
Returned with another in love I could see
But I'll show her one day 'cause I know that someday
I'm gonna make somethin' of me
So I'm leaving Dogtown at dawn
Seeking my fortune and fame
Cause my heart has grown cold
From a love come and gone
As I hung out in Dogtown too long
Good ol' man winter was fresh out of snow
When the leaves had left town
She followed them out
Running from rural and cold
I told her I'd visit
If the roads didn't close
The clouds opened up
And then down came the snow
And the days turned to weeks
And the weeks felt like months
Burning ol' memories and anthracite coal
And I hung out in Dogtown too long once again
Winter time draws me back in
All the birds have flown south
And the gold's come and gone
And I hung out in Dogtown too long
Sometimes I wonder why I stick around
Even the cathouse has long been torn down
And how many dog years does a man have to kill
To know there's no luck or love left in these hills
And I hung out in Dogtown too long
Setting like warm solstice sun
All the gold's turned to green and birds have flown home
And I hung out in Dogtown too long
A face I remember from so long ago
Returned with another in love I could see
But I'll show her one day 'cause I know that someday
I'm gonna make somethin' of me
So I'm leaving Dogtown at dawn
Seeking my fortune and fame
Cause my heart has grown cold
From a love come and gone
As I hung out in Dogtown too long
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Dogtown Lyrics as written by Willy Braun
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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