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.
Palmetto rose in the AC vent
Cross-stitched pillow where the head rest went
He said his cab was his orneriest friend
Left him jumping like trees in the wind
Thought he had the red lights memorized
Glass in the gravel like the stars in the sky
In that slow motion minute between living and dead
Looked in my eyes and he told me, he said
This war that I wage to get up every day
It's a fiberglass boat, it's azaleas in May
It's the women I love and the law that I hate
Lord, let me die in the Iodine State
Lord, let me die in the Iodine State
Palmetto rose in the sidewalk mud
Pearly-white stem and a big green bud
Catch him coming out of a King Street store
Bullshit story about the Civil War
You can believe what you want to believe
But there ain't no making up a basket weave
Everybody in the tri-county knows
Who makes the best palmetto rose
And it's war that we wage to get up every day
It's a basket of sweet grass, a wedding bouquet
It's the ladies I love and the law that I hate
But Lord, let me die in the Iodine State
Lord, let me die in the Iodine State
And out on Sullivan's Island, they're swimming
On the beach where the big boats rolled in
With the earliest slaves, women and children
Our first American kin
Here on King Street we're selling our roses
Two for a five-dollar bill
And tonight after everything closes
I'll follow my own free will
And I've taken my fill
I've taken my fill
Cross-stitched pillow where the head rest went
He said his cab was his orneriest friend
Left him jumping like trees in the wind
Thought he had the red lights memorized
Glass in the gravel like the stars in the sky
In that slow motion minute between living and dead
Looked in my eyes and he told me, he said
This war that I wage to get up every day
It's a fiberglass boat, it's azaleas in May
It's the women I love and the law that I hate
Lord, let me die in the Iodine State
Lord, let me die in the Iodine State
Palmetto rose in the sidewalk mud
Pearly-white stem and a big green bud
Catch him coming out of a King Street store
Bullshit story about the Civil War
You can believe what you want to believe
But there ain't no making up a basket weave
Everybody in the tri-county knows
Who makes the best palmetto rose
And it's war that we wage to get up every day
It's a basket of sweet grass, a wedding bouquet
It's the ladies I love and the law that I hate
But Lord, let me die in the Iodine State
Lord, let me die in the Iodine State
And out on Sullivan's Island, they're swimming
On the beach where the big boats rolled in
With the earliest slaves, women and children
Our first American kin
Here on King Street we're selling our roses
Two for a five-dollar bill
And tonight after everything closes
I'll follow my own free will
And I've taken my fill
I've taken my fill
Lyrics submitted by belledujour
Palmetto Rose Lyrics as written by Jason Isbell
Lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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