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.
A smack on the wrists is the words
From the mouth of the outsiders, lawyers, police
A small price to pay for the dope
And the guns and the rape, it should all be okay (okay)
Your father is rich, he's the judge
He's the man, he's the God that got your sentence reduced
But in the back of his mind, he well knows
What he'd find if he looked a little deeper in you
In you
Drag the waters some more
Like never before
Drag the waters some more
Like never before
Drag the waters some more
Sweet is the slice and the lips
You're going to have that woman, she is your favorite lay
Promised you swore that no one had been there
And she was going to keep it that way
Let it move in, you got thin
And got high, and your money went and so did your friends
But she's by your side, and her smile
Cannot hide the premonition of the beckoning end
The end
Drag the waters some more
Like never before
Drag the waters some more
Like never before
Drag the waters some more
Drag the waters some more (some more)
Like never before (like never before)
Drag the waters some more
Drag the waters some more
Like never before
Drag the waters some more
Drag the waters some more (some more, some more)
Like never before (before)
Drag the waters some more (some more)
Drag the waters some more
Drag the waters some more
Drag the waters some more
Like never before
Drag the waters some more
From the mouth of the outsiders, lawyers, police
A small price to pay for the dope
And the guns and the rape, it should all be okay (okay)
Your father is rich, he's the judge
He's the man, he's the God that got your sentence reduced
But in the back of his mind, he well knows
What he'd find if he looked a little deeper in you
In you
Drag the waters some more
Like never before
Drag the waters some more
Like never before
Drag the waters some more
Sweet is the slice and the lips
You're going to have that woman, she is your favorite lay
Promised you swore that no one had been there
And she was going to keep it that way
Let it move in, you got thin
And got high, and your money went and so did your friends
But she's by your side, and her smile
Cannot hide the premonition of the beckoning end
The end
Drag the waters some more
Like never before
Drag the waters some more
Like never before
Drag the waters some more
Drag the waters some more (some more)
Like never before (like never before)
Drag the waters some more
Drag the waters some more
Like never before
Drag the waters some more
Drag the waters some more (some more, some more)
Like never before (before)
Drag the waters some more (some more)
Drag the waters some more
Drag the waters some more
Drag the waters some more
Like never before
Drag the waters some more
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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Great song, You guys are probably right on the meaning. Someone who has power to get theirself out of trouble, probably a rock star. And he gets into drugs, and gets in trouble and loses everything.