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.
Backstroke lover always hidin' 'neath the cover
'Till I talked to my daddy he say
He said, "You ain't seen nothing
'Till you're down on a muffin
Then you're sure to be a-changin' your ways"
I met a cheerleader, was a real young bleeder
All the times I can reminisce
'Cause the best thing lovin'
With her sister and her cousin
Only started with a little kiss, like this
See-saw swingin' with the boys in the school
With your feet flyin' up in the air
Singin' "Hey diddle-diddle with the kitty in the middle
Of the swing" like I didn't care
So I took a big chance at the high school dance
With a missy who was ready to play
Wasn't me she was foolin'
'Cause she knew what she was doin'
And I know love is here to stay
When she told me to
Walk this way, walk this way
Walk this way, walk this way
Walk this way, walk this way
Walk this way, walk this way
Ah, just give me a kiss
School girl sweetie with the classy kinda sassy
Little skirt's climbin' way up her knees
There was three young ladies in the school gym locker
When I noticed they was lookin' at me
I was a high school loser
Never made it with a lady
Till the boys told me something I missed
Then my next door neighbor
With a daughter had a favor
So I gave her just a little kiss, like this
See-saw swingin' with the boys in the school
With your feet flyin' up in the air
Singin' "Hey diddle-diddle with the kitty in the middle
Of the swing" like I didn't care
So I took a big chance at the high school dance
With a missy who was ready to play
Wasn't me she was foolin'
'Cause she knew what she was doin'
When she told me how to walk this way
She told me to
"Walk this way, walk this way
Walk this way, walk this way
Walk this way, walk this way
Walk this way, walk this way"
Just give me a kiss
'Till I talked to my daddy he say
He said, "You ain't seen nothing
'Till you're down on a muffin
Then you're sure to be a-changin' your ways"
I met a cheerleader, was a real young bleeder
All the times I can reminisce
'Cause the best thing lovin'
With her sister and her cousin
Only started with a little kiss, like this
See-saw swingin' with the boys in the school
With your feet flyin' up in the air
Singin' "Hey diddle-diddle with the kitty in the middle
Of the swing" like I didn't care
So I took a big chance at the high school dance
With a missy who was ready to play
Wasn't me she was foolin'
'Cause she knew what she was doin'
And I know love is here to stay
When she told me to
Walk this way, walk this way
Walk this way, walk this way
Walk this way, walk this way
Walk this way, walk this way
Ah, just give me a kiss
School girl sweetie with the classy kinda sassy
Little skirt's climbin' way up her knees
There was three young ladies in the school gym locker
When I noticed they was lookin' at me
I was a high school loser
Never made it with a lady
Till the boys told me something I missed
Then my next door neighbor
With a daughter had a favor
So I gave her just a little kiss, like this
See-saw swingin' with the boys in the school
With your feet flyin' up in the air
Singin' "Hey diddle-diddle with the kitty in the middle
Of the swing" like I didn't care
So I took a big chance at the high school dance
With a missy who was ready to play
Wasn't me she was foolin'
'Cause she knew what she was doin'
When she told me how to walk this way
She told me to
"Walk this way, walk this way
Walk this way, walk this way
Walk this way, walk this way
Walk this way, walk this way"
Just give me a kiss
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They went to the movie "Young Frankenstein" and saw one of the characters, Egore, say "walk this way" that's how Steven got the idea for the lyrics to an already kick ass guitar lick. honest to God.
@diseased_and_amused At first, I didn't believe this, as I thought that Walk This Way was written before the release of Young Frankenstein. However, after some research, I found that it's true! Young Frankenstein" was released on December 15, 1974, and this song was written in early 1975 and released as a single on August 28, 1975.<br /> <br /> From Wikipedia: "Deciding to take a break from recording, band members and producer Jack Douglas went down to Times Square to see Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein". Returning to the studio, they were laughing about Marty Feldman telling Gene Wilder to follow him in the film, saying "walk this way" and limping. Douglas suggested this as a title for their song."
@diseased_and_amused it's pronounced eye-gore
The "Young Frankenstein" story is probably apocryphal, especially since the joke, "Walk this way" - - "If I could walk that way I wouldn't need the talcum powder" - - has been around for decades prior to both the song and the film. According to SongFacts.com: "(Steven) Tyler, however, tells a different story regarding the inspiration for the title . . . "The song title evolved from watching The Three Stooges on TV. They walked this way and that." Not sure what that meant; possibly, the "Slowly I Turned" sketch from their "Niagara Falls" episode?