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.
Say, where did I see this guy?
In "Red River"?
Or a "Place In The Sun"?
Maybe "The Misfits"?
Or "From Here To Eternity"?
And everybody say, "Is he all right?"
And everybody say, "What's he like?"
And everybody say, "He sure looks funny"
That's Montgomery Clift, honey
New York, New York, 42nd Street
Hustlers rustle and pimps pimp the beat
Monty Clift is recognized at dawn
He ain't got no shoes and his clothes are torn
And everybody say, "Is he all right?"
And everybody say, "What's he like?"
And everybody say, "He sure look funny"
That's that Montgomery Clift, honey
I see a car smashed at night
Cut the applause and dim the light
Monty's face is broken on a wheel
Is he alive? Can he still feel?
And everybody say, "Is he all right?"
And everybody say, "Shine a light"
And everybody say, "It's not funny"
That's Montgomery Clift, honey
Shoot his right profile
And everybody say, "Is he all right?"
And everybody say, "What's he like?"
And everybody say, "He sure look funny"
That's Montgomery Clift, honey
Nembutol numbs it all
But I prefer alcohol
And everybody say, "What's he like?"
And everybody say, "Is he all right?"
And everybody say, "He sure look funny"
That's Montgomery Clift, honey!
He said go out and get me my old movie stills
Go out and get me another roll of pills
There I go again shaking, but I ain't got the chills
And everybody say, "What's he like?"
And everybody say, "Is he all right?"
And everybody say, "He sure looks funny"
I was trapped, Montgomery Clift, honey
In "Red River"?
Or a "Place In The Sun"?
Maybe "The Misfits"?
Or "From Here To Eternity"?
And everybody say, "Is he all right?"
And everybody say, "What's he like?"
And everybody say, "He sure looks funny"
That's Montgomery Clift, honey
New York, New York, 42nd Street
Hustlers rustle and pimps pimp the beat
Monty Clift is recognized at dawn
He ain't got no shoes and his clothes are torn
And everybody say, "Is he all right?"
And everybody say, "What's he like?"
And everybody say, "He sure look funny"
That's that Montgomery Clift, honey
I see a car smashed at night
Cut the applause and dim the light
Monty's face is broken on a wheel
Is he alive? Can he still feel?
And everybody say, "Is he all right?"
And everybody say, "Shine a light"
And everybody say, "It's not funny"
That's Montgomery Clift, honey
Shoot his right profile
And everybody say, "Is he all right?"
And everybody say, "What's he like?"
And everybody say, "He sure look funny"
That's Montgomery Clift, honey
Nembutol numbs it all
But I prefer alcohol
And everybody say, "What's he like?"
And everybody say, "Is he all right?"
And everybody say, "He sure look funny"
That's Montgomery Clift, honey!
He said go out and get me my old movie stills
Go out and get me another roll of pills
There I go again shaking, but I ain't got the chills
And everybody say, "What's he like?"
And everybody say, "Is he all right?"
And everybody say, "He sure looks funny"
I was trapped, Montgomery Clift, honey
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As the first few lyrics say, Clift was in the movie THE MISFITS (where the punk band got their name from) and FROM HERE TO ETERNITY (The name of one of The Clash's live albums.)
(The Misfits, starring Marilyn Monroe & Clark Gable, was both their last films before they died)
He is also the subject of the song "Monty Got A Raw Deal" by REM
@JeffKaos71 You did know "From Here To Eternity" Is a famous 1953 war film starring Burt Lancaster, Montgomery Clift, Frank Sinatra, Ernest Borgnine and Donna Reed, right? It won eight Academy Awards.I think the live Clash album may have taken the name from this. As a matter of fact, Red River, A Place in the Sun, the Misfits and From Here to Eternity are all films starring Mongomery Clift. The lyric is taken from the point of view of the EMT who arrived on the scene of a real car accident Clift had been in. "Say where have I seen this guy before?"