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.
Well, well, well, oh yeah, mmm.
I'm sitting here in Memphis,
Whiskey bottle in my hand, oh. I got to find a woman,
I'm only on a one-night stand,
I've got to kick away these blues,
Got to get on my rock and roll shoes,
I'm leaving in the morning,
I'm heading for the promised land.
Got to call a number,
A certain woman in town, yeah,
But when I got connected she told me
She was going to settle down, Oh baby, yeah.
I've got to kick away these blues,
Got to get on my rock and roll shoes,
I'm leaving in the morning,
I'm heading for the promised land,
Oh baby; look out over there.
Ever since I've been playing guitar in a band,
Ever since I been to St. Davida's school,
Every time I tried to play my winning hand,
I get a little closer but it's still the same old game.
Ma ma mama, I get a little closer to you baby, Seem like
you're all the same, I get a little closer to you,
still the same old game, Come on baby, I want to take you with me.
I've got to leave the city, I'm headed for the California sun,
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, They say the girls are pretty
And pretty soon I'm going to get me one, Yeah, yeah, yeah,
I've got to kick away these blues, Got to get on my
rock and roll shoes, I'm leaving in the morning,
I'm heading for the promised land, Lord knows I am.
Ever since I been playing guitar in a band, Ever since I've been
St. Davida's place, Every time I tried to play my winning hand,
I get a little closer but it's still the same old game
Ever since I been playing guitar in a band
I'm sitting here in Memphis,
Whiskey bottle in my hand, oh. I got to find a woman,
I'm only on a one-night stand,
I've got to kick away these blues,
Got to get on my rock and roll shoes,
I'm leaving in the morning,
I'm heading for the promised land.
Got to call a number,
A certain woman in town, yeah,
But when I got connected she told me
She was going to settle down, Oh baby, yeah.
I've got to kick away these blues,
Got to get on my rock and roll shoes,
I'm leaving in the morning,
I'm heading for the promised land,
Oh baby; look out over there.
Ever since I've been playing guitar in a band,
Ever since I been to St. Davida's school,
Every time I tried to play my winning hand,
I get a little closer but it's still the same old game.
Ma ma mama, I get a little closer to you baby, Seem like
you're all the same, I get a little closer to you,
still the same old game, Come on baby, I want to take you with me.
I've got to leave the city, I'm headed for the California sun,
Oh yeah, yeah, yeah, They say the girls are pretty
And pretty soon I'm going to get me one, Yeah, yeah, yeah,
I've got to kick away these blues, Got to get on my
rock and roll shoes, I'm leaving in the morning,
I'm heading for the promised land, Lord knows I am.
Ever since I been playing guitar in a band, Ever since I've been
St. Davida's place, Every time I tried to play my winning hand,
I get a little closer but it's still the same old game
Ever since I been playing guitar in a band
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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