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.
There'll be a hot time in the town of Berlin
When the Yanks go marching in
I wanna be there boy and spread some joy
When they take old Berlin
There'll be a hot time in the town of Berlin
When the Brooklyn boys begin
To take the joint apart and tear it down
When they take old Berlin
They're gonna start a row and show them how
We paint the town back in Kokomo
They're gonna take a hike through Hitler's Reich,
And change the "Heil" to "Whatcha-know-Joe"
There'll be a hot time in the town of Berlin
When the Yanks go marching in
You could never keep `em happy down on the farm
After they take Berlin.
There'll be a hot time in the town of Berlin
When the Yanks go marching in
Oh what a Jubilee there's gonna be
When they take old Berlin
There'll be a hot time in the town of Berlin
When the Brooklyn boys begin
To take the joint apart and tear it down
When they take old Berlin
They're gonna start a row and show them how
We paint the town back in Michigan
They're gonna take a hike through Hitler's Reich,
And change the "Heil" to "Gimme some skin"
There'll be a hot time in the town of Berlin
When the Yanks go marching in
You could never keep `em happy down on the farm
After they take Berlin.
When the Yanks go marching in
I wanna be there boy and spread some joy
When they take old Berlin
There'll be a hot time in the town of Berlin
When the Brooklyn boys begin
To take the joint apart and tear it down
When they take old Berlin
They're gonna start a row and show them how
We paint the town back in Kokomo
They're gonna take a hike through Hitler's Reich,
And change the "Heil" to "Whatcha-know-Joe"
There'll be a hot time in the town of Berlin
When the Yanks go marching in
You could never keep `em happy down on the farm
After they take Berlin.
There'll be a hot time in the town of Berlin
When the Yanks go marching in
Oh what a Jubilee there's gonna be
When they take old Berlin
There'll be a hot time in the town of Berlin
When the Brooklyn boys begin
To take the joint apart and tear it down
When they take old Berlin
They're gonna start a row and show them how
We paint the town back in Michigan
They're gonna take a hike through Hitler's Reich,
And change the "Heil" to "Gimme some skin"
There'll be a hot time in the town of Berlin
When the Yanks go marching in
You could never keep `em happy down on the farm
After they take Berlin.
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
(There'll Be A) Hot Time in the Town of Berlin (When the Yanks Go ...) Lyrics as written by Joe Bushkin Johnny Devries
Lyrics © THE MUSIC GOES ROUND
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(There'll Be a) Hot Time in the Town of Berlin (When the Yanks Go Marching In) song meanings
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