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.
I'm a blond bombshell and I wear it well
You're momma says you go straight to hell
I'm sweet sixteen and a rebel queen
I look real hot in my tight blue jeans
Dead end kids in the danger zone
All of you are drunk or stoned
Dead end kids you're not alone
You sleep in the street when you're not at home
Long hot summers make you wanna fight
The roar of the city lasts all night
You like drugs you like brew
You won't believe what I can do to you
Dead end kids in the danger zone
All of you are drunk or stoned
Dead end kids you're not alone
You sleep in the street when you're not at home
I got away clean with my fake ID
No more school or mommy for me
Stealing cars and breaking hearts
Pills and thrills and acting smart
Dead end kids in the danger zone
All of you are drunk or stoned
Dead end kids you're not alone
You sleep in the street when you're not at home
In the naked city
Spaces ain't that pretty
As I was getting dusted
I happened to get busted
Oh yes I was arrested
Oh god how I protested
They beat me with a board
It hurt just like a sword
They kicked me in the eye
My brain began to fry
This is like a movie
I know I'm gonna scream
All the pain that I feel
Makes me feel mean
It's so sad and crazy here
I think I'm gonna cry
If I don't wake up from this dream
I think I'm gonna........die
Where am !?
Your in a cheap run down teenage jail thats where
Oh my god!
Yeah blondie your gonna be here till your 18 so get used to it
Behind the bars, there's a superstar
Who never had a chance
She could sing, she could dance
You don't sing and dance in juvie honey
Behind the walls, they've seen it all
Gotta have, gotta have
Justice, justice
Don't want your law and order
Justice, justice
Or world wide disorder
What you in for?
Wouldn't you like to know.
Behind the fence, there is no defense
There's murder, rape and bribery
In and out, burglary
You don't look so tough
Oh I been around
On the planet sorrow, there is no tommorrow
Gonna get.....
Justice, justice
Don't want your law and order
Justice, justice
Or world wide disorder
You can't turn off the tears
They crawl in juvenile hall
Cruel reform schools
They don't smile, they got no bail or jury trial
Joan, lets break out tonite
Ok Cherie, whats the plan?
You grab the guard, in the prison yard
Get his keys and gun, we'll run
My old man's waiting outside in a van
Is he handsome?
You'll see
Cause you know, we gotta be free
Justice, justice
Don't want your law and order
Justice, justice
Or world wide disorder
We'll go far through the prison yard
You and me, we will be free
Just be safe, don't be late
If you see the guard don't hesitate
But Joan I'm getting tired
I've run out of fire
I can't go any farther
But Cherie you must try harder
Joan, I'm down, my ankle
I can't go on, but I can't leave you
What do I do?
Save yourself, you know what you gotta do
OH MY GOD
You're momma says you go straight to hell
I'm sweet sixteen and a rebel queen
I look real hot in my tight blue jeans
Dead end kids in the danger zone
All of you are drunk or stoned
Dead end kids you're not alone
You sleep in the street when you're not at home
Long hot summers make you wanna fight
The roar of the city lasts all night
You like drugs you like brew
You won't believe what I can do to you
Dead end kids in the danger zone
All of you are drunk or stoned
Dead end kids you're not alone
You sleep in the street when you're not at home
I got away clean with my fake ID
No more school or mommy for me
Stealing cars and breaking hearts
Pills and thrills and acting smart
Dead end kids in the danger zone
All of you are drunk or stoned
Dead end kids you're not alone
You sleep in the street when you're not at home
In the naked city
Spaces ain't that pretty
As I was getting dusted
I happened to get busted
Oh yes I was arrested
Oh god how I protested
They beat me with a board
It hurt just like a sword
They kicked me in the eye
My brain began to fry
This is like a movie
I know I'm gonna scream
All the pain that I feel
Makes me feel mean
It's so sad and crazy here
I think I'm gonna cry
If I don't wake up from this dream
I think I'm gonna........die
Where am !?
Your in a cheap run down teenage jail thats where
Oh my god!
Yeah blondie your gonna be here till your 18 so get used to it
Behind the bars, there's a superstar
Who never had a chance
She could sing, she could dance
You don't sing and dance in juvie honey
Behind the walls, they've seen it all
Gotta have, gotta have
Justice, justice
Don't want your law and order
Justice, justice
Or world wide disorder
What you in for?
Wouldn't you like to know.
Behind the fence, there is no defense
There's murder, rape and bribery
In and out, burglary
You don't look so tough
Oh I been around
On the planet sorrow, there is no tommorrow
Gonna get.....
Justice, justice
Don't want your law and order
Justice, justice
Or world wide disorder
You can't turn off the tears
They crawl in juvenile hall
Cruel reform schools
They don't smile, they got no bail or jury trial
Joan, lets break out tonite
Ok Cherie, whats the plan?
You grab the guard, in the prison yard
Get his keys and gun, we'll run
My old man's waiting outside in a van
Is he handsome?
You'll see
Cause you know, we gotta be free
Justice, justice
Don't want your law and order
Justice, justice
Or world wide disorder
We'll go far through the prison yard
You and me, we will be free
Just be safe, don't be late
If you see the guard don't hesitate
But Joan I'm getting tired
I've run out of fire
I can't go any farther
But Cherie you must try harder
Joan, I'm down, my ankle
I can't go on, but I can't leave you
What do I do?
Save yourself, you know what you gotta do
OH MY GOD
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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this is my favorite runaways song. the best part about this song is the super cheesy dialogue. amazing.
It's mine, too. The cheesy dialogue is absolutely amazing. I think that's why it's my favorite. :D
Epic-a definitive badass riot grrl anthem; its too bad that this song wasn't used in the film adaption. The Runaways deserve a lot more credit because they did a hell of a lot for women in rock, promoted individualism, and were truly rebellious...not to mention they had some wicked tunes. The dialogue in this song is quite entertaining, especially cuz the journey leading up to it was pretty wicked.
I read Cherie Currie's book Neon Angel, and there was a part in there that I had no clue about. When the band first went to a foreign country (European tour), they were stopped by a police officer, had their luggage searched, and the cops found lots of hotel room keys that they had been collecting (as a type of 'souvenir' from all the places they've been). Apparently, that's illegal, so Cherie, Joan, and Sandy got taken to prison. They stayed there a day or two, before they got bailed out by Scott (their roadie), Lita, and Jackie. I guess this really freaked Cherie out, which explains the dialogue.