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.
Southern renegade
Country boy, born and raised
Rebel proud I ain't ashamed
And I don't give a damn Jack what you think
Southern renegade
Standing tall and proud to say
I'll stay country til the day
They put me six feet in my grave
On the day I was born, yeah they all gathered 'round
Got the cops on the horn said 'Look what we found'
They thought we were a dyin' breed, provin' em wrong
I'm the King of the Dirty South, mud on my throne
It's sink or swim but where I swim you'll sink
And I don't give a damn Jack what you think
Yeah the time has turned, but the clock has changed
You can call me true grit but I ain't John Wayne
I'm a renegade - a rebel flag nightmare
Been walking tall since I outgrew my highchair
Born ready fat chew in my mouth
Rebel pride, I ain't ashamed I grew up in the South
Where your family had your back, you could call on your friends
Yeah, hop up in the truck and ride the wheels to the end
I'ma stay dirty south cos it's how I was raised
Redneck, walkin' tall til they dump me in the grave
Southern renegade
Country boy, born and raised
Rebel proud I ain't ashamed
And I don't give a damn Jack what you think
Southern renegade
Standing tall and proud to say
I'll stay country til the day
They put me six feet in my grave
You can talk the talk, but cain't walk the walk
You're a store-bought country boy it ain't my fault
I'm a wild coyote on a late night stroll
I'm that renegade chief, top of the totem pole
Swamp rat, rebel flag on my back
Florida Georgia Tennessee, Alabam' to the Cackalacks
Southern thing, that moccasin sting
Lyrics hit you like that venom, one bite killing everything
Sneak attack! Yeah don't blink
I'm a straight glass of whiskey you're an umbrella pretty drink
Hardcore bleeding red white and blue
Walk tall like Sheriff Buford and that whole damn crew
It's a cattle crossing! The Bull's coming through!
The South never died dude, I thought you knew
Take a tall Georgia pine, chop it up four ways
Dig it six feet deep and I'ma hop in that grave
Southern renegade
Country boy, born and raised
Rebel proud I ain't ashamed
And I don't give a damn Jack what you think
Southern renegade
Standing tall and proud to say
I'll stay country til the day
They put me six feet in my grave
Country boy, born and raised
Rebel proud I ain't ashamed
And I don't give a damn Jack what you think
Southern renegade
Standing tall and proud to say
I'll stay country til the day
They put me six feet in my grave
On the day I was born, yeah they all gathered 'round
Got the cops on the horn said 'Look what we found'
They thought we were a dyin' breed, provin' em wrong
I'm the King of the Dirty South, mud on my throne
It's sink or swim but where I swim you'll sink
And I don't give a damn Jack what you think
Yeah the time has turned, but the clock has changed
You can call me true grit but I ain't John Wayne
I'm a renegade - a rebel flag nightmare
Been walking tall since I outgrew my highchair
Born ready fat chew in my mouth
Rebel pride, I ain't ashamed I grew up in the South
Where your family had your back, you could call on your friends
Yeah, hop up in the truck and ride the wheels to the end
I'ma stay dirty south cos it's how I was raised
Redneck, walkin' tall til they dump me in the grave
Southern renegade
Country boy, born and raised
Rebel proud I ain't ashamed
And I don't give a damn Jack what you think
Southern renegade
Standing tall and proud to say
I'll stay country til the day
They put me six feet in my grave
You can talk the talk, but cain't walk the walk
You're a store-bought country boy it ain't my fault
I'm a wild coyote on a late night stroll
I'm that renegade chief, top of the totem pole
Swamp rat, rebel flag on my back
Florida Georgia Tennessee, Alabam' to the Cackalacks
Southern thing, that moccasin sting
Lyrics hit you like that venom, one bite killing everything
Sneak attack! Yeah don't blink
I'm a straight glass of whiskey you're an umbrella pretty drink
Hardcore bleeding red white and blue
Walk tall like Sheriff Buford and that whole damn crew
It's a cattle crossing! The Bull's coming through!
The South never died dude, I thought you knew
Take a tall Georgia pine, chop it up four ways
Dig it six feet deep and I'ma hop in that grave
Southern renegade
Country boy, born and raised
Rebel proud I ain't ashamed
And I don't give a damn Jack what you think
Southern renegade
Standing tall and proud to say
I'll stay country til the day
They put me six feet in my grave
Lyrics submitted by McJeff
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