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.
The evening began as a positive swaret
And my abode was 4-2-0 G.
But little did I know that in the very next apartment
There'd be trouble on the brew for me!
Ubiquitous I wish I could be
Because the clock cuts short my own day!
One hundred things to do before I rest my sore ass
Upon the cushion that supports my array!
Can this be?
Trouble!
So if I may, slip you a tip.
You'd best stay away from 4-2-1.
Trouble!
So get high the green way.
So get by the green way, yes!
I knocked upon their door
In hopes of bidding them their welcome
And instead I was caught by an eye.
His pupil was wide open
Kinda like a liquor barn at 3:00.
It was indoubadoubly dose derived.
It was then that they took me
And shined their light between my eyes.
He said "What are ya new?
Why are you here? What's the catch?
Why not explain in clear? Why you're peaking around?"
I wish I could've just kept to my own.
My hospitality has been too well spent and I've paid my rent!
I should've kept my thoughts, on who might've been inside
So that my mind could sit and delude my pride!
I beg my common sense to keep my
Neighbor out away from my front door
Until I find a way
To hide myself from those in 4-2-1, one
..one away from the good one.
And my abode was 4-2-0 G.
But little did I know that in the very next apartment
There'd be trouble on the brew for me!
Ubiquitous I wish I could be
Because the clock cuts short my own day!
One hundred things to do before I rest my sore ass
Upon the cushion that supports my array!
Can this be?
Trouble!
So if I may, slip you a tip.
You'd best stay away from 4-2-1.
Trouble!
So get high the green way.
So get by the green way, yes!
I knocked upon their door
In hopes of bidding them their welcome
And instead I was caught by an eye.
His pupil was wide open
Kinda like a liquor barn at 3:00.
It was indoubadoubly dose derived.
It was then that they took me
And shined their light between my eyes.
He said "What are ya new?
Why are you here? What's the catch?
Why not explain in clear? Why you're peaking around?"
I wish I could've just kept to my own.
My hospitality has been too well spent and I've paid my rent!
I should've kept my thoughts, on who might've been inside
So that my mind could sit and delude my pride!
I beg my common sense to keep my
Neighbor out away from my front door
Until I find a way
To hide myself from those in 4-2-1, one
..one away from the good one.
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So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
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Just A Little Lovin'
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great song...obviously about smoking pot
great song...obviously about smoking pot
shit, son, i wished i lived in 4 2 0 G.
It's probably about how his old neighbours were law abiding citizens and were against Brandon smoking weed. So he had to keep his weed smoking a secret from those in apartment 421. lol
just realized...its about him moving into a new apartment and him talking to his new neighbors in apartment 421 and they became nosey after him talking with him so now he has to hide his smoking of pot...its about him wishing he never tried to know his neighbors
what you all say makes lots of sence. i alway thought it was him trying harder drugs then smoking weed. getting high of of 4:21 rather the 4:20. "so get high the green way" is saying just smoke the ganja. dont do crack, its bad for you!
[Hilikus421]
this song shows brandon boyds aptitude for writing good lyrics at an early age.(he uses many big words)
oh dear oh dear (its not just about using big words - how old are you) theres so much more than that!
youre all slightly off with the interpretation.
The ancient myan calander finishes at 2012 of 4-21 at 10:24am - i.e. the predicted end of the world- why would they stop it there unless they knew something we dont, or at least believed they did! (im hoping they were right-this world is a god-awful mess)
Brandon shows interest in this theory in a couple of other songs - certain shade of green (gona stand around till 2012 ad)
brandon is in 420g - hes in the room next door to those who have committed themselves to death - he knows hes gonna die so he and his organic institution are just gonna enjoy the natural halucanogens that nature has provided for our use (get high) note how room 421 (the end of the world) is full of judgement. so many things to do before i die - read the song again! -fuck it lets get stoned...
please stop dismissing him as a stupid stoner / 2high to know how to make sense, just cos u dont get him. please see my hilikus post!
actually i could be wrong! shock horror - check out some of these links particularly the first one
caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/casecode/uscodes/50/chapters/15/subchapters/iv/sections/section_421.html
is are those in 421 informants etc who do the secret spying deeds of 'the man' and those we have elected above us to decide what we can and cant do- im not a US citizen - does 421 protect FBI etc?
no youre right i was wrong - 420 = 4:20 pot smoking time, 421 is somewhere where either something else is being taken (something chemical) or something where nothing is being taken
-420 comes up in take me 2 ur leader
damn im such a dumass