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.
Once upon a time and a very good time it was
There was a moocow coming down along the road
And this moocow that was down along the road
Met a nicens little boy named baby tuckoo
His father told him that story
His father looked at him through a
Glass: he had a hairy face
He was baby tuckoo the moocow came down
The road where Betty Byrne lived
She sold lemon platt
O, the wild rose blossoms
On the little green place
He sang that song that was his song
O, the green wothe botheth
When you wet the bed
First it's warm then it gets cold
His mother put on the oilsheet
That had the queer smell
His mother had a nicer smell than his father
She played on the piano the sailor's hornpipe
For him to dance he danced
Tralala lala tralala tralaladdy
Tralala lala tralala lala
Uncle Charles and Dante clapped
They were older than his father and mother
But uncle Charles was older than Dante
Dante had two brushes in her press
The brush with the maroon velvet
Back was for Michael Davitt
And the brush with the green
Velvet back was for Parnell
Dante gave him a cachou every time he
Brought her a piece of tissue paper
The Vances lived in number seven they
Had a different father and mother
They were Eileen's father and mother
When they were grown up he
Was going to marry Eileen
He hid under the table his mother said
O, Stephen will apologize
Dante said o, if not
The eagles will come and pull out his eyes
Pull out his eyes apologize
Apologize pull out his eyes
Apologize pull out his eyes
Pull out his eyes apologize
There was a moocow coming down along the road
And this moocow that was down along the road
Met a nicens little boy named baby tuckoo
His father told him that story
His father looked at him through a
Glass: he had a hairy face
He was baby tuckoo the moocow came down
The road where Betty Byrne lived
She sold lemon platt
O, the wild rose blossoms
On the little green place
He sang that song that was his song
O, the green wothe botheth
When you wet the bed
First it's warm then it gets cold
His mother put on the oilsheet
That had the queer smell
His mother had a nicer smell than his father
She played on the piano the sailor's hornpipe
For him to dance he danced
Tralala lala tralala tralaladdy
Tralala lala tralala lala
Uncle Charles and Dante clapped
They were older than his father and mother
But uncle Charles was older than Dante
Dante had two brushes in her press
The brush with the maroon velvet
Back was for Michael Davitt
And the brush with the green
Velvet back was for Parnell
Dante gave him a cachou every time he
Brought her a piece of tissue paper
The Vances lived in number seven they
Had a different father and mother
They were Eileen's father and mother
When they were grown up he
Was going to marry Eileen
He hid under the table his mother said
O, Stephen will apologize
Dante said o, if not
The eagles will come and pull out his eyes
Pull out his eyes apologize
Apologize pull out his eyes
Apologize pull out his eyes
Pull out his eyes apologize
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
From Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man Lyrics as written by Peter Schickele
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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