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.
This is the ballad of Hollywood Jack and the Rage Cage
Nothing could stop them when Jables and Rage hit the stage
and Hollywood Jack hit the big time and when to make movies
Rage Kage was left far behind in the dust of his dreams
And he grumbled and growled and watched Hollywood Jack on Jay Leno
He bellowed and said he'd be nothing without help from Kage
he burned up the photos of Jables and Kage doing mushrooms
"Fuck him, I don't need no Hollywood jack anyway"
So Hollywood Jack lived up high on a hill in a bubble
and Rage Kage live deep in the broiling valley below
Yes, the rage Kage bubbled with rage
He looked at the ground
and he looked on the stage
The lava was throwing
and boiling inside the old Kage
As Hollywood Jack climbed the ladder of stardom before him
He watched as his indie credentials flew right out the door
He'd make millions and then he'd go out and he'd make even more millions
He'd screened KG's calls and snorked coke of the ass of a whore
No one respected him
They just rejected him
No one would represent Kage
Left on the streets of his dreams
He'd would cry, and he'd rage for the stage
Ahahaaa
Then Hollywood Jack got a message that Kage was in trouble
They send Kage away cause he had gone completely insane
So Hollywood Jack jumped upon a jetplane and flew all that night through
the rain
To be with his friend to see what remained of his brain
Then Hollywood Jack told the doctors: You got to retrieve him!
You've got the technoligy, use the techniques of your trade
He grabbed the Lapelles and he screamed "BY GOD YOU MUST SAVE HIM!"
Because Rage Kage and I can't you see that were one and the same!
Aaaah!
RAGE KAGE!
OH RAGE KAGE!
There'd be magic inside that old name
And you know that you know
That you're going completely insane
Oh the Rage Kage!
Oh the Rage Kage!
All the line we rolled once again
And you know
Yes you know
That you're going completely insane
Nothing and no one could harm the old Rage Kage again,
Nothing and no one could harm the old Rage Kage again,
Nothing and no one could harm the old Rage Kage again,
Nothing and no one could harm the old Rage Kage again,
Nothing and no one could harm the old Rage Kage again,
Hollywood Jack and the Rage Kage were out once again.
Nothing could stop them when Jables and Rage hit the stage
and Hollywood Jack hit the big time and when to make movies
Rage Kage was left far behind in the dust of his dreams
And he grumbled and growled and watched Hollywood Jack on Jay Leno
He bellowed and said he'd be nothing without help from Kage
he burned up the photos of Jables and Kage doing mushrooms
"Fuck him, I don't need no Hollywood jack anyway"
So Hollywood Jack lived up high on a hill in a bubble
and Rage Kage live deep in the broiling valley below
Yes, the rage Kage bubbled with rage
He looked at the ground
and he looked on the stage
The lava was throwing
and boiling inside the old Kage
As Hollywood Jack climbed the ladder of stardom before him
He watched as his indie credentials flew right out the door
He'd make millions and then he'd go out and he'd make even more millions
He'd screened KG's calls and snorked coke of the ass of a whore
No one respected him
They just rejected him
No one would represent Kage
Left on the streets of his dreams
He'd would cry, and he'd rage for the stage
Ahahaaa
Then Hollywood Jack got a message that Kage was in trouble
They send Kage away cause he had gone completely insane
So Hollywood Jack jumped upon a jetplane and flew all that night through
the rain
To be with his friend to see what remained of his brain
Then Hollywood Jack told the doctors: You got to retrieve him!
You've got the technoligy, use the techniques of your trade
He grabbed the Lapelles and he screamed "BY GOD YOU MUST SAVE HIM!"
Because Rage Kage and I can't you see that were one and the same!
Aaaah!
RAGE KAGE!
OH RAGE KAGE!
There'd be magic inside that old name
And you know that you know
That you're going completely insane
Oh the Rage Kage!
Oh the Rage Kage!
All the line we rolled once again
And you know
Yes you know
That you're going completely insane
Nothing and no one could harm the old Rage Kage again,
Nothing and no one could harm the old Rage Kage again,
Nothing and no one could harm the old Rage Kage again,
Nothing and no one could harm the old Rage Kage again,
Nothing and no one could harm the old Rage Kage again,
Hollywood Jack and the Rage Kage were out once again.
Lyrics submitted by SF_Sorrow, edited by AdolfTheGreat
The Ballad of Hollywood Jack and the Rage Kage Lyrics as written by Kyle Richard Gass Thomas Jack Black
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think it's pretty obvious here, especially for those who aren't new to Tenacious D. The lyrics are straightforward enough, although I find it interesting that the song breaks the fourth wall a bit. Jables (Hollywood Jack) and the Rage Kage are are a couple of the nicknames for the characters that Jack Black and Kyle Gass represent in both tv, film, and in their band. They basically play caricatures of themselves, that perform half-serious/half comedy music. However, in this song, the situation involves a bit of half-truth, referring to the actors'/musicians' actual life in that Jack Black really did take movie deals while still in the band with Kyle, and went on to become a big star while Kyle didn't for the most part. (Everything else, I'm sure, is over-exaggerated... Kyle and Jack are great friends and still make music, obviously.) This song is about what happens when stardom can go to one's head, and how separation (and jealousy) can lead to remorse, or in this case, insanity. In the end, the strong bond between the two former bandmates leads one back to the other, only to find that his friend is no longer the same. I guess the only part that can be open to interpretation is the very end. "Nothing and no one can harm the old Rage Kage again," could mean that the doctors were unsuccessful at curing him and that he was too far gone to be hurt again, or it could mean that they did, and that Jack and he are back together, and that lyric could mean he won't leave his side again. The latter is evidenced by the very last line as the music fades out... "Hollywood Jack and the Rage Kage will ride once again..."