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.
Her breath began to speak as she stood right in front of me
The color of her eyes were the color of insanity
Crushed beneath her wave like a ship, I could not reach her shore
We're all just dancers on the devil's dance floor
Well, swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, a little more next to me
Swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, on the devil's dance floor
Pressed against her face I could feel her insecurity
Her mother'd been a drunk and her father was obscurity
But nothin' ever came from a life that was a simple one
So pull yourself together girl and have a little fun
Well she took me by the hand I could see she was a fiery one
Her legs ran all the way up to heaven and past Avalon
Tell me somethin' girl, what it is you have in store, she said
Come with me now on the devil's dance floor
Well, swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, a little more next to me
Swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, on the devil's dance floor
Swing a little more, on the devil's dance floor
Well, swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, a little more next to me
Swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, on the devil's dance floor
The apple now is sweet, oh, much sweeter than it ought to be
Another little bite, I don't think there is much hope for me
The sweat beneath her brow travels all the way an' headin' south
This bleedin' heart's cryin', 'cause there's no way out
Well, swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, a little more next to me
Swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, on the devil's dance floor
Well, swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, a little more next to me
Swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, on the devil's dance floor
Swing a little more, on the devil's dance floor
Swing a little more, on the devil's dance floor
The color of her eyes were the color of insanity
Crushed beneath her wave like a ship, I could not reach her shore
We're all just dancers on the devil's dance floor
Well, swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, a little more next to me
Swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, on the devil's dance floor
Pressed against her face I could feel her insecurity
Her mother'd been a drunk and her father was obscurity
But nothin' ever came from a life that was a simple one
So pull yourself together girl and have a little fun
Well she took me by the hand I could see she was a fiery one
Her legs ran all the way up to heaven and past Avalon
Tell me somethin' girl, what it is you have in store, she said
Come with me now on the devil's dance floor
Well, swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, a little more next to me
Swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, on the devil's dance floor
Swing a little more, on the devil's dance floor
Well, swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, a little more next to me
Swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, on the devil's dance floor
The apple now is sweet, oh, much sweeter than it ought to be
Another little bite, I don't think there is much hope for me
The sweat beneath her brow travels all the way an' headin' south
This bleedin' heart's cryin', 'cause there's no way out
Well, swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, a little more next to me
Swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, on the devil's dance floor
Well, swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, a little more next to me
Swing a little more, little more o'er the merry-o
Swing a little more, on the devil's dance floor
Swing a little more, on the devil's dance floor
Swing a little more, on the devil's dance floor
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
the lyrics are "swing a little more, a little more o'er the merry-o." they're easily confused what with the Irish accent, but these are the correct ones. this song makes me want to take Irish dancing lessons. plus, maybe the know what the hell a merry-o is or how to get over it.
Haha, totally. What is a "merry-o"? I was wondering that myself. This song makes me think of a wild Irish party. And I really want to be invited.
Excuse me for my comment on Selfish Man inwhich I said fuck 11 times. good then. Devil's Dance floor is an awesome Flogging Molly song, hell just an awesome song period, as all FM is.
Excuse me for my comment on Selfish Man inwhich I said fuck 11 times. good then. Devil's Dance floor is an awesome Flogging Molly song, hell just an awesome song period, as all FM is.
man i saw them live im really sorry but they r sucky!:( ah well i tried to like them but have failed!:S atch weel! skank on!xxx
Blasphemy.
I must say, when I first heard this song, it caught my attention very quickly. It has to be one of the best F.M. songs. I can't wait until Warped Tour so I can see em live!
I'm a huge flogging molly fan, and I donn't know about when skatoonist sazzy said when she said they sucked live. Cuz at wharped tour in Tinley park the band got more attention than any other band in the whole place. Seeing concerts is my life and that was one of the best ever! Everybody went nuts. It was a bunch of drunk Irish dudes going insane on stage but still sounding great. You can't beat that
weehee this song is the best when youre in a crazy mood =D
sweet catastrophe, i am a crazy mood. in fact, you know that little guy that sits on your shoulder, just as you're about to throw a brick through a window, and whispers "just do it, don't think of the consequences, they're nothing compared to the thrill, and those doubts will just slow you down, just DO IT NOW!!!" well, i'm not him. but i am his cabana boy. and as his personal representative, i have to say this song, and all you crazy kids brings tears to his eyes, he's so proud. sniff
yah i dont get it either i saw em at camden n they were incredible they were the whole reason i went n seein them close was just amazin not to mention meetin them they r so cool in general they signed autographs n did pics fer everyone that came over not many other bands did that
Whoo! Flogging molly is an awesome band.. and they put on a great live show. : D I love this song. and all their songs for that matter.. such an awesome band.. but they are begginging to get really popular and really fast. Which isnt good.. cause now they dont do any street fairs anymore: ( I hope they just do not get too big..
But still an amazingly super awesome band.