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.
And I won't give it up to you
And I feel love, feel love
Jailhouse gets empty
Rudy gets plenty
The baton stick gets shorter
Rudy gets taller
Can't fight against the youth
'Cause we're strong and we're rude rude people
Can't fight against the youth
'Cause we're strong and we're rude rude people
When I was a youth in 1983
Was the best day of my life, had the 89 vision
We didn't fuss or no fight
When all the little daughters wanna be my wife
It was playin' on my guitar, on my guitar
I had to be there
I had to be there
I had to be there
I had to be there
When the rhythm playin'
I know that I'm gonna be there yeah
Bud Gaugh will be singing there
And Eric Wilson will be bangin' up there, yeah
Oh and we'll be all singin', with version, with version, reggae version, reggae version, version, oh
What has been told to the wise and up-rooted
Yeah, it's gonna be revealed unto, and Sublime
Rudy Rudy Rudy
Can't fight against the youth, right now
Them are rude, rude people
Can't fight against the resistance, oh right now
Them are rude, rude people
We gonna rule this land among children
We gonna rule this land
'Cause when that rhythm it was playin' on my guitar
On my guitar
I had to be there
I had to be there
I had to be there
I had to be there
When I was a youth it was the best day
It was the best day of my life
We had the 89' vision
We didn't fuss or no fight
When all the little daughters wanna be my wife
When that rhythm it was playin' on my guitar
On my guitar
I had to be there
I had to be there
I had to be there
I had to be there
I had to be there
Had to be there
Jailhouse gets empty
Rudy gets plenty
Baton stick gets shorter
Rudy gets taller, taller
And fight against the youth
'Cause we're strong, and we're rude, rude people
Can't fight against the youth
And I feel love, feel love
Jailhouse gets empty
Rudy gets plenty
The baton stick gets shorter
Rudy gets taller
Can't fight against the youth
'Cause we're strong and we're rude rude people
Can't fight against the youth
'Cause we're strong and we're rude rude people
When I was a youth in 1983
Was the best day of my life, had the 89 vision
We didn't fuss or no fight
When all the little daughters wanna be my wife
It was playin' on my guitar, on my guitar
I had to be there
I had to be there
I had to be there
I had to be there
When the rhythm playin'
I know that I'm gonna be there yeah
Bud Gaugh will be singing there
And Eric Wilson will be bangin' up there, yeah
Oh and we'll be all singin', with version, with version, reggae version, reggae version, version, oh
What has been told to the wise and up-rooted
Yeah, it's gonna be revealed unto, and Sublime
Rudy Rudy Rudy
Can't fight against the youth, right now
Them are rude, rude people
Can't fight against the resistance, oh right now
Them are rude, rude people
We gonna rule this land among children
We gonna rule this land
'Cause when that rhythm it was playin' on my guitar
On my guitar
I had to be there
I had to be there
I had to be there
I had to be there
When I was a youth it was the best day
It was the best day of my life
We had the 89' vision
We didn't fuss or no fight
When all the little daughters wanna be my wife
When that rhythm it was playin' on my guitar
On my guitar
I had to be there
I had to be there
I had to be there
I had to be there
I had to be there
Had to be there
Jailhouse gets empty
Rudy gets plenty
Baton stick gets shorter
Rudy gets taller, taller
And fight against the youth
'Cause we're strong, and we're rude, rude people
Can't fight against the youth
Lyrics submitted by The Big Andowski
Jailhouse Lyrics as written by John Holt Warren Williams
Lyrics © THIRD SIDE MUSIC INC.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think its about a celebration of their band and them damn kids! On of Sublimes best in my opion.