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.
Cosmic Charlie how do you do
Truckin' in style along the avenue
Dum de dum de do da lee do
Go on home your mama's calling you.
Calico Cal, ya come tell me the news
Calamity's waiting for a way to get to her
Rosey red and electric blue
I bought you a paddle for your paper canoe.
Say you'll come back when you can
Whenever your airplane happens to land
Maybe I'll be back here too
It all depends on what's with you.
Woke up waiting for a windy day
Cat on I ? since the first of February
Mama keeps saying that the wind might blow
But standing here I say I just don't know.
New ones come in as the old ones go
Everything's moving here but much too slowly
A little bit quicker and we might have time
To say how do you do before we left behind.
Calliope wail like a seaside zoo
The very last lately inquired about you
It's really very one or two
The first you wanted the last I knew.
I just wonder if you shouldn't feel
Less concerned about the people unreal
The very first word is how do you do
The last go home your mama's calling you.
Calling you oh, oh, oh, oh, h,
Calling you oh, oh, oh,
Calling you oh, oh, oh,
Calling you oh, oh, oh
Calling you oh, oh, oh,
Go on home your mama's calling you
Calling you oh, oh, oh,
Go on home your mama's calling you
Calling you oh, oh, oh,
Go on home your mama's calling you
Go on home your mama's calling you
Truckin' in style along the avenue
Dum de dum de do da lee do
Go on home your mama's calling you.
Calico Cal, ya come tell me the news
Calamity's waiting for a way to get to her
Rosey red and electric blue
I bought you a paddle for your paper canoe.
Say you'll come back when you can
Whenever your airplane happens to land
Maybe I'll be back here too
It all depends on what's with you.
Woke up waiting for a windy day
Cat on I ? since the first of February
Mama keeps saying that the wind might blow
But standing here I say I just don't know.
New ones come in as the old ones go
Everything's moving here but much too slowly
A little bit quicker and we might have time
To say how do you do before we left behind.
Calliope wail like a seaside zoo
The very last lately inquired about you
It's really very one or two
The first you wanted the last I knew.
I just wonder if you shouldn't feel
Less concerned about the people unreal
The very first word is how do you do
The last go home your mama's calling you.
Calling you oh, oh, oh, oh, h,
Calling you oh, oh, oh,
Calling you oh, oh, oh,
Calling you oh, oh, oh
Calling you oh, oh, oh,
Go on home your mama's calling you
Calling you oh, oh, oh,
Go on home your mama's calling you
Calling you oh, oh, oh,
Go on home your mama's calling you
Go on home your mama's calling you
Lyrics submitted by itsmyownmind
Cosmic Charlie Lyrics as written by Robert C. Hunter Jerome J. Garcia
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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My favorite grateful dead song by far... The live track on the remade American Beauty CD is intense! I am puzzled by the hidden messages in this song, however, I do notice the emphasis on "home" which can be seen in many other GD songs as well. My favorite line is, "I just wonder if you shouldn't feel, less concerned about the deep unreal." Can someone offer their feedback, please?
@thewohl I think this line is a criticism of anybody that is more concerned with building their own Stairway to Heaven than the needs of the people around them, particularly those that consider themselves to be Good Christians, but still rejected our movement, our vision, our push for change, from the very start. These "Christians" are more focused on their place in some "deep unreal" after life, than on helping people in their ACTUAL reality.