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.
Won't you be my wagon wheel
Won't you tell me, baby, how do you feel
Hey you gotta live your life as though you're number one
Hey you gotta live yeah your life and make a point of having some fun
But if you think that you could get some flirting with danger
Danger ooo woo just kick her in the head and rearrange her
Oh, Heavenly Father, what can I do
She's done to me it's making me crazy
Oh, Heavenly Father, I know I have sinned
But look where I've been
It's makin me lazy
Won't you be my wagon wheel
Won't you tell me baby how does it feel
You gotta live your life as though you're number one
Yeah, you gotta live yeah your life and make a point of having some fun
But if you think that you could get to flirting with danger
Danger ooo woo just kick her in the head and rearrange her
And then why don't you wake me, shake me
Don't let me sleep too long
Why don't you wake me, shake me
Don't let me sleep too long
Don't want to miss it now
Wake me shake me baby
Don't let me sleep too long
Why don't you wake me shake me
Please don't let me sleep too long
Why don't you wake me -wake me- shake me -shake me-
Please don't let me sleep too long
Why don't you wake me -wake me- shake me -shake me-
Please don't let me sleep too long
Why don't you wake me -wake me- shake me -shake me-
Please don't let me sleep too long
Why don't you wake me -wake me- shake me -shake me-
Please don't let me sleep too long
Won't you tell me, baby, how do you feel
Hey you gotta live your life as though you're number one
Hey you gotta live yeah your life and make a point of having some fun
But if you think that you could get some flirting with danger
Danger ooo woo just kick her in the head and rearrange her
Oh, Heavenly Father, what can I do
She's done to me it's making me crazy
Oh, Heavenly Father, I know I have sinned
But look where I've been
It's makin me lazy
Won't you be my wagon wheel
Won't you tell me baby how does it feel
You gotta live your life as though you're number one
Yeah, you gotta live yeah your life and make a point of having some fun
But if you think that you could get to flirting with danger
Danger ooo woo just kick her in the head and rearrange her
And then why don't you wake me, shake me
Don't let me sleep too long
Why don't you wake me, shake me
Don't let me sleep too long
Don't want to miss it now
Wake me shake me baby
Don't let me sleep too long
Why don't you wake me shake me
Please don't let me sleep too long
Why don't you wake me -wake me- shake me -shake me-
Please don't let me sleep too long
Why don't you wake me -wake me- shake me -shake me-
Please don't let me sleep too long
Why don't you wake me -wake me- shake me -shake me-
Please don't let me sleep too long
Why don't you wake me -wake me- shake me -shake me-
Please don't let me sleep too long
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar, edited by brianeyes
Wagon Wheel Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © SONY ATV MUSIC PUB LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
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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This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
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