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.
Up on my side, where it is felt
I pack a little pistol on my pistol belt
I think it might be fear
Of the world and the way it makes you feel afraid
Under the skin, against the skull
They put a little chip so that they know it all
I think I might be scared
Of the world and the way it makes you feel afraid
And how it gets in the way
In the way
In the way
In the way
And now I want brimstone in my garden
I want roses set on fire
And I, well I want what's best for me
And I, well, I think I know just what that means
Just what that means
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Today I coo, today I caw
I have a pistol party and I kill 'em all
I think I might be scared
Of the man and the men with their hands inside
And the women, oh, the women, all they do is cry
And I, well I lose my mind
I lose my mind
I lose my mind
I lose my mind
And now I found brimstone in my garden
I found roses set on fire
And I found Jesus, what a liar
So I trade licks with Muddy Waters
And I, well I found what's best for me
And now I see no tragedy
And I, I found a burning rose
And now I won't be packing little pistols
No, no, no more
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh)
I pack a little pistol on my pistol belt
I think it might be fear
Of the world and the way it makes you feel afraid
Under the skin, against the skull
They put a little chip so that they know it all
I think I might be scared
Of the world and the way it makes you feel afraid
And how it gets in the way
In the way
In the way
In the way
And now I want brimstone in my garden
I want roses set on fire
And I, well I want what's best for me
And I, well, I think I know just what that means
Just what that means
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
Today I coo, today I caw
I have a pistol party and I kill 'em all
I think I might be scared
Of the man and the men with their hands inside
And the women, oh, the women, all they do is cry
And I, well I lose my mind
I lose my mind
I lose my mind
I lose my mind
And now I found brimstone in my garden
I found roses set on fire
And I found Jesus, what a liar
So I trade licks with Muddy Waters
And I, well I found what's best for me
And now I see no tragedy
And I, I found a burning rose
And now I won't be packing little pistols
No, no, no more
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh-ooh)
(Ooh-ooh-ooh)
Lyrics submitted by catandmouse, edited by Faradei, SIlverNGold
Little Pistol Lyrics as written by Ryan Guldemond
Lyrics © Anthem Entertainment
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Like others have said before, I believe it's about fear. How it can twist you into something you never thought you would be, but theres no going back once you have gone too deep... When you fear, you lose control, so it's only natural to want that control back, which can spiral quickly out of hand. Within a few years you could be a completely different person. From pure, being scared, to being the one scaring others.
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Theres two types of people who have control: the ones that had it and have grown so used to it that they don't want to lose it, at almost any cost, and those that feared and fought for control they have.