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 pulled up to a cattle guard
Got out, opened up the gate
I drove down a long dirt road
To the banks of an old two- acre lake
They had bonfires and barbwire
Fresh-caught catfish in the deep fryer
I jumped out my truck and said, it's on
And everybody sang
Hey ya'll, break out the beer, turn the skynyrd on
Hey ya'll, how ya doin'?
Whatcha doin'?
Hey ya'll, we ain't leavin' 'til they call the law
Hey ya'll, hey ya'll, come on
A cloud of dust came rollin' in
Blue lights flashin', there were ten of them
Sheriff Harper and all his boys
Said all they had to do was just follow the noise
He dropped his gun, and then his star
Reached in his cruiser, pulled out his guitar
Said officer, what have we done wrong?
He just smiled at me a said, nothin' at all, singin'
Hey ya'll break out the beer, turn the Skynyrd on
Hey ya'll whatcha doin? how ya' doin?
Hey ya'll crank it up, we ain't never goin' home
Hey ya'll ,
Hey ya'll watch this
See that girl over there lookin' fine
Well, I betcha by morning I can make her mine
Everybody sang
Hey ya'll , break out the beer, turn the Skynyrd on
Hey ya'll watcha doin'?
Baby, how'm I doin?
Hey ya'll, we ain't leavin' til the law goes home
Hey ya'll, hey ya'll, come on
Got out, opened up the gate
I drove down a long dirt road
To the banks of an old two- acre lake
They had bonfires and barbwire
Fresh-caught catfish in the deep fryer
I jumped out my truck and said, it's on
And everybody sang
Hey ya'll, break out the beer, turn the skynyrd on
Hey ya'll, how ya doin'?
Whatcha doin'?
Hey ya'll, we ain't leavin' 'til they call the law
Hey ya'll, hey ya'll, come on
A cloud of dust came rollin' in
Blue lights flashin', there were ten of them
Sheriff Harper and all his boys
Said all they had to do was just follow the noise
He dropped his gun, and then his star
Reached in his cruiser, pulled out his guitar
Said officer, what have we done wrong?
He just smiled at me a said, nothin' at all, singin'
Hey ya'll break out the beer, turn the Skynyrd on
Hey ya'll whatcha doin? how ya' doin?
Hey ya'll crank it up, we ain't never goin' home
Hey ya'll ,
Hey ya'll watch this
See that girl over there lookin' fine
Well, I betcha by morning I can make her mine
Everybody sang
Hey ya'll , break out the beer, turn the Skynyrd on
Hey ya'll watcha doin'?
Baby, how'm I doin?
Hey ya'll, we ain't leavin' til the law goes home
Hey ya'll, hey ya'll, come on
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Hey Y'all Lyrics as written by Monty Powell Chris Cagle
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Hipgnosis Songs Group
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
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.