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.
Step right up, boys, right this way
Down to the Sewanee Mountain hideaway
All the girls lined up would spit in their eyes
Kickin' and a-scratchin' for a Tennessee prize
Gather 'round, boys, and place your bets
On which one a these cats can scratch the best
All you gals want a good clean fight
Sewanee Mountain catfight's here tonight
Sewanee Mountain catfight, dollar and a dime
Girls gone wild on the Tennessee line
Got her by the hair, another by the neck
Teeth go flyin' in a roadside shack
Well, the first thing you know, ol' Jump-Up Joe
Took twelve one win, place or show
She was lookin' to kill
Straight from the holler on hill
Then the whistle blew and Betty-Lou
Took a hankie in his hair and away she flew
Slapped her on the fanny then she flipped her gown
Racked up four points in the very first round
Sewanee Mountain catfight, dollar and a dime
Girls gone wild on the Tennessee line
Got her by the hair, another by the neck
Teeth go flyin' in a roadside shack
Yeah, the girls was hot and the beer was cold
Just about then them blue lights rolled
They busted in through the kitchen door
And the sheriff pulled out a .44
Hey Sheriff, bring that Betty Lou
She oughta bring that hothead home to you
The sheriff payed his $1.10
Said, "Girls, start up that fight again"
Sewanee Mountain catfight, dollar and a dime
Girls gone wild on the Tennessee line
Got her by the hair, another by the neck
Teeth go flyin' in a roadside shack
Step right up, boys
C'mon, now, lay your money down
Alright girls, now make it clean
We don't want no blows below the panty line
C'mon now
Down to the Sewanee Mountain hideaway
All the girls lined up would spit in their eyes
Kickin' and a-scratchin' for a Tennessee prize
Gather 'round, boys, and place your bets
On which one a these cats can scratch the best
All you gals want a good clean fight
Sewanee Mountain catfight's here tonight
Sewanee Mountain catfight, dollar and a dime
Girls gone wild on the Tennessee line
Got her by the hair, another by the neck
Teeth go flyin' in a roadside shack
Well, the first thing you know, ol' Jump-Up Joe
Took twelve one win, place or show
She was lookin' to kill
Straight from the holler on hill
Then the whistle blew and Betty-Lou
Took a hankie in his hair and away she flew
Slapped her on the fanny then she flipped her gown
Racked up four points in the very first round
Sewanee Mountain catfight, dollar and a dime
Girls gone wild on the Tennessee line
Got her by the hair, another by the neck
Teeth go flyin' in a roadside shack
Yeah, the girls was hot and the beer was cold
Just about then them blue lights rolled
They busted in through the kitchen door
And the sheriff pulled out a .44
Hey Sheriff, bring that Betty Lou
She oughta bring that hothead home to you
The sheriff payed his $1.10
Said, "Girls, start up that fight again"
Sewanee Mountain catfight, dollar and a dime
Girls gone wild on the Tennessee line
Got her by the hair, another by the neck
Teeth go flyin' in a roadside shack
Step right up, boys
C'mon, now, lay your money down
Alright girls, now make it clean
We don't want no blows below the panty line
C'mon now
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
The Night We Met
Lord Huron
Lord Huron
This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
Just A Little Lovin'
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
I don't think it's necessarily about sex. It's about wanting to start the day with some love and affection. Maybe a warm cuddle. I'm not alone in interpreting it that way! For example:
"'Just a Little Lovin’ is a timeless country song originally recorded by Eddy Arnold in 1954. The song, written by Eddie Miller and Jimmy Campbell, explores the delicate nuances of love and showcases Arnold’s emotive vocals. It delves into the universal theme of love and how even the smallest gesture of affection can have a profound impact on our lives." https://oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-just-a-little-lovin-by-eddy-arnold/
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.