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.
Well a person can work up a mean mean thirst
After a hard day of nothin' much at all
Summer's passed, it's too late to cut the grass
There ain't much to rake anyway in the fall
And sometimes I just ain't in the mood
To take my place in back with the loudmouths
You're like a picture on the fridge that's never stocked with food
I used to live at home, now I stay at the house
And everybody wants to be special here
They call your name out loud and clear
Here comes a regular
Call out your name
Here comes a regular
Am I the only one here today?
Well a drinkin' buddy that's bound to another town
Once the police made you go away
And even if you're in the arms of someone's baby now
I'll take a great big whiskey to ya anyway
Everybody wants to be someone's here
Someone's gonna show up, never fear
'Cause here comes a regular
Call out your name
Yes here comes a regular
Am I the only one who feels ashamed?
Kneeling alongside old Sad Eyes
He says opportunity knocks once then the door slams shut
All I know is I'm sick of everything that my money can buy
A fool who wastes his life, God rest his guts
First the lights, then the collar goes up, and the wind begins to blow
Turn your back on a pay-you-back, last call
First the glass, then the leaves that pass, then comes the snow
Ain't much to rake anyway in the fall
After a hard day of nothin' much at all
Summer's passed, it's too late to cut the grass
There ain't much to rake anyway in the fall
And sometimes I just ain't in the mood
To take my place in back with the loudmouths
You're like a picture on the fridge that's never stocked with food
I used to live at home, now I stay at the house
And everybody wants to be special here
They call your name out loud and clear
Here comes a regular
Call out your name
Here comes a regular
Am I the only one here today?
Well a drinkin' buddy that's bound to another town
Once the police made you go away
And even if you're in the arms of someone's baby now
I'll take a great big whiskey to ya anyway
Everybody wants to be someone's here
Someone's gonna show up, never fear
'Cause here comes a regular
Call out your name
Yes here comes a regular
Am I the only one who feels ashamed?
Kneeling alongside old Sad Eyes
He says opportunity knocks once then the door slams shut
All I know is I'm sick of everything that my money can buy
A fool who wastes his life, God rest his guts
First the lights, then the collar goes up, and the wind begins to blow
Turn your back on a pay-you-back, last call
First the glass, then the leaves that pass, then comes the snow
Ain't much to rake anyway in the fall
Lyrics submitted by punkynoisething
Here Comes a Regular Lyrics as written by Paul Westerberg
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sentric Music, Songtrust Ave, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
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paul westerberg would be a genius forever to me for "i used to live at home / now i stay at the house" alone.
Sounds like the sad existance of someone wasting away on a barstool. When the bar closes and the cold wind hits him, he realizes summer is over and another year has passed. Friends come and go, some die or go to jail, but he knows everyone here and they know him and he will always have a place there. They are all just like him. Kinda like Cheers.
Utterly bleak and depressing. But "Here Comes A Regular" is a triumph of songwriting. Westerberg and The Replacements created a true gift of a song here.
I like the pun on regular. He's a regular at the bar, but he's also just a regular guy. He's not anybody special. He's like a million other people in the world.
@robsun couple BILLION I’d say
This song makes me cry. Especially the line "summer's passed, it's too late..." I'm having a really hard time and the words are fittung exactly into my situation.
I'm a regular, to the point that this might a well be my theme song. We have one bar in our town, and any time I walk in, the bartender has my Jameson ready. Every time, it's all the same folks, with no good jobs, no prospects, and no real hope. So we drink, and it makes life tolerable, until something better comes. Here's to small town America, may you never last.
^5 to all of your comments. I grew up in the minneapolis suburbs and this song still means a lot to me. I was in high school when I first heard it and it helped me get my life together. I was going nowhere, had just failed freshman algebra. I ended up with a Ph.D. in chemistry. Thanks mats!
Just perfect song about life. The world moves on, there is winter, summer and so on, the years are passing and what you have is one day less to live than you had yesterday. 'He says opportunity knocks once then the door slams shut'- so true. So you have to do something, make a difference. Make something that counts. An not for somebody, do it for yourself because this is the only chance you will ever get.
@neuroticvinyl ...I just wish the 'Mats stopped slamming the door on opportunity when it kept knocking..still..never the same band without Bob.
@neuroticvinyl ...I just wish the 'Mats stopped slamming the door on opportunity when it kept knocking..still..never the same band without Bob.
Anyone from minnesota can relate to this song, especially anyone from a small midwest town.
Classic story of the townies. Walk into the local bar any night of the week and see the same people drinking the same thing. Some people are meant for greater things but never leave the comfort of all the people and things they know. "Here comes a regular. Am I the only one who feels ashamed?"
Thanks for sharing your beautiful lyrical abilities Paul.
This song can lift me up and bring me down in equal measure. That's an accomplishment in songwriting.