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.
They're building the gallows outside my cell,
I got twenty-five minutes to go.
The whole town's waiting to hear me yell,
I got twenty-four minutes to go.
Well, I tried the governor and the whole damn bunch,
I got twenty-three minutes to go.
And I tried the mayor, but the mayor's out to lunch,
I got twenty-two minutes to go.
They've given me beans for my last meal,
I got twenty-one minutes to go.
Nobody's asked me how I feel,
I got twenty minutes to go.
Well, the sheriff said he's gonna watch me die,
I got nineteen minutes to go.
Well, I spit in his face, and I spit in his eye,
I got eighteen minutes... to go.
Well, the preacher's come to save my soul,
I got thirteen minutes to go.
Well, he's talking about burning but I feel cold,
I got twelve minutes to go.
Well, they're testing the trap, it chills my spine,
I got eleven minutes to go.
Well, the trap and the rope are both working fine,
I got ten minutes to go.
I'm waiting for the pardon that will set me free,
I got nine minutes to go.
But nobody's remembered me,
I got eight more minutes to go.
Well, I've seen the mountains and the sky,
I got five minutes to go.
And they're so pretty, I don't wanna die,
I got four more minutes to go.
Well, my feet are in the trap, my neck is in the noose,
I got three minutes to go.
Oh, will somebody please cut me loose,
I got two more minutes to go.
Well, I heard the buzzards, I've seen the crows,
I got one minute to go.
And now I'm swinging, and here I go,
I go, I go, I gchchchchcaaaaawwwwwwwwwwww...........
I got twenty-five minutes to go.
The whole town's waiting to hear me yell,
I got twenty-four minutes to go.
Well, I tried the governor and the whole damn bunch,
I got twenty-three minutes to go.
And I tried the mayor, but the mayor's out to lunch,
I got twenty-two minutes to go.
They've given me beans for my last meal,
I got twenty-one minutes to go.
Nobody's asked me how I feel,
I got twenty minutes to go.
Well, the sheriff said he's gonna watch me die,
I got nineteen minutes to go.
Well, I spit in his face, and I spit in his eye,
I got eighteen minutes... to go.
Well, the preacher's come to save my soul,
I got thirteen minutes to go.
Well, he's talking about burning but I feel cold,
I got twelve minutes to go.
Well, they're testing the trap, it chills my spine,
I got eleven minutes to go.
Well, the trap and the rope are both working fine,
I got ten minutes to go.
I'm waiting for the pardon that will set me free,
I got nine minutes to go.
But nobody's remembered me,
I got eight more minutes to go.
Well, I've seen the mountains and the sky,
I got five minutes to go.
And they're so pretty, I don't wanna die,
I got four more minutes to go.
Well, my feet are in the trap, my neck is in the noose,
I got three minutes to go.
Oh, will somebody please cut me loose,
I got two more minutes to go.
Well, I heard the buzzards, I've seen the crows,
I got one minute to go.
And now I'm swinging, and here I go,
I go, I go, I gchchchchcaaaaawwwwwwwwwwww...........
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
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