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.
Madman drummers bummers and Indians in the summer
With a teenage diplomat
In the dumps with the mumps
As the adolescent pumps his way into his hat
With a boulder on my shoulder, feelin' kinda older
I tripped the merry-go-round
With this very unpleasing sneezing and wheezing
The calliope crashed to the ground
Some all-hot half-shot was headin' for the hot spot
Snappin' his fingers, clappin' his hands
And some fleshpot mascot was tied into a lover's knot
With a whatnot in her hand
And now young Scott with a slingshot
Finally found a tender spot and throws his lover in the sand
And some bloodshot forget-me-not whispers
Daddy's within earshot, save the buckshot, turn up the band
And she was blinded by the light
Oh, cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
She got down but she never got tight
But she'll make it alright
Some brimstone baritone anti-cyclone
Rolling stone preacher from the East
He says, dethrone the dictaphone
Hit it in its funny bone, that's where they expect it least
And some new-mown chaperone was standin' in the corner all alone
Watchin' the young girls dance
And some fresh-sown moonstone was messin' with his frozen zone
To remind him of the feeling of romance
Yeah, he was blinded by the light
Oh, cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
He got down but he never got tight, but he's gonna make it tonight
Some silicone sister with her manager's mister
Told me I got what it takes
She said, I'll turn you on, sonny
To something strong if you'll play that song with the funky break
And Go-Cart Mozart was checkin' out the weather chart
To see if it was safe to go outside
And little Early-Pearly came by in her curly-wurly
And asked me if I needed a ride
Oh, some hazard from Harvard was skunked on beer
Playin' backyard bombardier
Yes, and Scotland Yard was trying hard
They sent some dude with a calling card
He said, do what you like, but don't do it here
Well, I jumped up, turned around, spit in the air
Fell on the ground and asked him which was the way back home
He said, take a right at the light
Keep goin' straight until night
And then, boy, you're on your own
And now in Zanzibar
A shootin' star was ridin' in a side car
Hummin' a lunar tune
Yes, and the avatar said, blow the bar
But first remove the cookie jar
We're gonna teach those boys to laugh too soon
And some kidnapped handicap was complainin'
That he caught the clap from some mousetrap he bought last night
Well, I unsnapped his skull cap and between his ears
I saw a gap and figured he'd be alright
He was just blinded by the light
Cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
Mama always told me not to look into the sights of the sun
Oh, but Mama, that's where the fun is
Ooh yeah
I was blinded
I was blinded
I was blinded
I was blinded
I was blinded
I was blinded
I was blinded
I was blinded
I was blinded
With a teenage diplomat
In the dumps with the mumps
As the adolescent pumps his way into his hat
With a boulder on my shoulder, feelin' kinda older
I tripped the merry-go-round
With this very unpleasing sneezing and wheezing
The calliope crashed to the ground
Some all-hot half-shot was headin' for the hot spot
Snappin' his fingers, clappin' his hands
And some fleshpot mascot was tied into a lover's knot
With a whatnot in her hand
And now young Scott with a slingshot
Finally found a tender spot and throws his lover in the sand
And some bloodshot forget-me-not whispers
Daddy's within earshot, save the buckshot, turn up the band
And she was blinded by the light
Oh, cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
She got down but she never got tight
But she'll make it alright
Some brimstone baritone anti-cyclone
Rolling stone preacher from the East
He says, dethrone the dictaphone
Hit it in its funny bone, that's where they expect it least
And some new-mown chaperone was standin' in the corner all alone
Watchin' the young girls dance
And some fresh-sown moonstone was messin' with his frozen zone
To remind him of the feeling of romance
Yeah, he was blinded by the light
Oh, cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
He got down but he never got tight, but he's gonna make it tonight
Some silicone sister with her manager's mister
Told me I got what it takes
She said, I'll turn you on, sonny
To something strong if you'll play that song with the funky break
And Go-Cart Mozart was checkin' out the weather chart
To see if it was safe to go outside
And little Early-Pearly came by in her curly-wurly
And asked me if I needed a ride
Oh, some hazard from Harvard was skunked on beer
Playin' backyard bombardier
Yes, and Scotland Yard was trying hard
They sent some dude with a calling card
He said, do what you like, but don't do it here
Well, I jumped up, turned around, spit in the air
Fell on the ground and asked him which was the way back home
He said, take a right at the light
Keep goin' straight until night
And then, boy, you're on your own
And now in Zanzibar
A shootin' star was ridin' in a side car
Hummin' a lunar tune
Yes, and the avatar said, blow the bar
But first remove the cookie jar
We're gonna teach those boys to laugh too soon
And some kidnapped handicap was complainin'
That he caught the clap from some mousetrap he bought last night
Well, I unsnapped his skull cap and between his ears
I saw a gap and figured he'd be alright
He was just blinded by the light
Cut loose like a deuce, another runner in the night
Blinded by the light
Mama always told me not to look into the sights of the sun
Oh, but Mama, that's where the fun is
Ooh yeah
I was blinded
I was blinded
I was blinded
I was blinded
I was blinded
I was blinded
I was blinded
I was blinded
I was blinded
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Bruce said later he was really surprised by the success of Manfred Mann's cover. "That's it, we're giving up the British" he told his manager, "- if THIS races to the number one spot they're much too eclectic for us"