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.
Ah!
You only got one finger left
And it's pointing at the door
And you're taking for granted
What the Lord's laid on the floor
So I'm picking up the pieces
And I'm putting them up for sale
Throw your meal ticket out the window
Put your skeletons in jail
'Cause Lord only knows it's getting late
Your senses are gone so don't you hesitate
To give yourself a call let your bottom dollars fall
Throwing your two bit cares down the drain
Invite me to the seven seas like some seasick man
You will do whatever you please and I'll do whatever I can
Titanic, fare thee well, my eyes are turning pink
Don't call us when the new age gets old enough to drink
'Cause Lord only knows it's getting late
Your senses are gone so don't you hesitate
To move on up the hill well there's nothing dead left to kill
Throwing your two bit cares down the drain
Odelay, odelay, odelay, odealy odelay, odelay
Just passing through
Odelay, odelay, odelay, odealy
Going back to Houston
Do the hot dog dance
Going back to Houston
To get me some pants
You only got one finger left
And it's pointing at the door
And you're taking for granted
What the Lord's laid on the floor
So I'm picking up the pieces
And I'm putting them up for sale
Throw your meal ticket out the window
Put your skeletons in jail
'Cause Lord only knows it's getting late
Your senses are gone so don't you hesitate
To give yourself a call let your bottom dollars fall
Throwing your two bit cares down the drain
Invite me to the seven seas like some seasick man
You will do whatever you please and I'll do whatever I can
Titanic, fare thee well, my eyes are turning pink
Don't call us when the new age gets old enough to drink
'Cause Lord only knows it's getting late
Your senses are gone so don't you hesitate
To move on up the hill well there's nothing dead left to kill
Throwing your two bit cares down the drain
Odelay, odelay, odelay, odealy odelay, odelay
Just passing through
Odelay, odelay, odelay, odealy
Going back to Houston
Do the hot dog dance
Going back to Houston
To get me some pants
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Beck is my (Gen X, I'm same age) generation's Dylan, no question.
'Cause Lord only knows it's getting late Your senses are gone so don't you hesitate To give yourself a call, let your bottom dollars fall Throwing your two bit cares down the drain
Frikkin genius. Layered meanings going on here. This was written in early 90's, pre cell phone. People used to use these things called pay phones, often with quarters. When he says give yourself a call, let your bottom dollars fall, he's talking about quarters (2 quarters = bottom half of a dollar). Obviously, 'bet your bottom dollar' is a ref on another level - but sticking with this "first layer" of interpretation, we've got the pay phone thing going on. Throwing 'two bit cares down the drain' = throwing two quarters (two bits) down the pay phone drain.
On another level, it sounds like a dysfunctional relationship has run it's course. I always visualize a 'trailer trash' type of scenario with one of those Jerry Springer type chicks you see on the tv .. don't know why, maybe it's the lazy, laconic rhythm of the melody and overall tone of the song ..