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.
Central scrutinizer:
We take you now to a garage in canoga park
(it makes its own sauce... if you add water)
It wasn't very large
There was just enough room to cram the drums
In the corner over by the dodge
It was a fifty-four
With a mashed up door
And a cheesy little amp
With a sign on the front said
"fender champ"
And a second-hand guitar
It was a stratocaster with a whammy bar
We could jam in joe's garage
His mama was screamin'
His dad was mad
We was playin' the same old song
In the afternoon 'n sometimes we would
Play it all night long
It was all we knew, 'n easy too
So we wouldn't get it wrong
All we did was bend the string like . . .
Hey!
Down in joe's garage
We didn't have no dope or lsd
But a coupla quartsa beer
Would fix it so the intonation
Would not offend yer ear
And the same old chords goin' over 'n over
Became a symphony
We could play it again 'n again 'n again
'Cause it sounded good to me
One more time!
We could jam in joe's garage
His mama was screamin',
"turn it down!"
We was playin' the same old song
In the afternoon 'n sometimes we would
Play it all night long
It was all we knew, 'n easy too
So we wouldn't get it wrong
Even if you played it on a saxophone
We thought we was pretty good
We talked about keepin' the band together
'n we figured that we should
'cause about this time we was gettin' the eye
From the girls in the neighborhood
They'd all come over 'n dance around like . . .
So we picked out a stupid name
Had some cards printed up for a coupla bucks
'n we was on our way to fame
Got matching suits
'n beattle boots
'n a sign on the back of the car
'n we was ready to work in a go-go bar
One two three four
Let's see if you've got some more!
People seemed to like our song
They got up 'n danced 'n made a lotta noise
An' it wasn't 'fore very long
A guy from a company we can't name
Said we oughta take his pen
'n sign on the line for a real good time
But he didn't tell us when
These "good times" would be somethin'
That was really happenin'
So the band broke up
An' it looks like
We will never play again...
Guess you only get one chance in life
To play a song that goes like...
Turn it down!
Turn it down!
I have children sleeping here . . .
Don't you boys know any nice songs?
Well the years was rollin' by
Heavy metal 'n glitter rock
Had caught the public eye
Snotty boys with lipstick on
Was really flyin' high
'n then they got that disco thing
'n new wave came along
'n all of a sudden I thought the time
Had come for that old song
We used to play in "joe's garage"
And if I am not wrong
You will soon be dancin' to the . . .
Central scrutinizer:
The white zone is for loading and unloading only.
If you gotta load or unload, go to the white zone...
I said the years was rollin' by, yeah
The years was rollin' by...
I'm calling the police!
So the years was rollin' by...
I did it!
So the years was rollin' by...
They'll be here... shortly!
By, by, the years was rollin' by...
This is the police...
I'm not joking around anymore!
Come out!
We have the garage surrounded
The years was rollin' by...
Give yourself up
We will not harm you
Or hurt you, neither
I said the years was rollin' by . . .
You'll see now!
There they are, they're coming!
This is the police
Give yourself up
We will not harm you
The years was rollin' by . . .
Listen to that mess, would you!
This is the police
Give yourself up
We have the garage surrounded
Every day this goes on around here!
The years was rollin' by...
We will not harm you
Or maim you
(swat team 4, move in!)
The years was rollin' by . . .
He used to cut my grass . . .
He was a very nice boy . . .
This is the police
Come out with your hands up
This is the central scrutinizer . . .
That was joe's first confrontation with the law.
Naturally, we were easy on him.
One of our friendly counselors gave him
A do-nut . . . and told him to
Stick closer to church-oriented social activities.
We take you now to a garage in canoga park
(it makes its own sauce... if you add water)
It wasn't very large
There was just enough room to cram the drums
In the corner over by the dodge
It was a fifty-four
With a mashed up door
And a cheesy little amp
With a sign on the front said
"fender champ"
And a second-hand guitar
It was a stratocaster with a whammy bar
We could jam in joe's garage
His mama was screamin'
His dad was mad
We was playin' the same old song
In the afternoon 'n sometimes we would
Play it all night long
It was all we knew, 'n easy too
So we wouldn't get it wrong
All we did was bend the string like . . .
Hey!
Down in joe's garage
We didn't have no dope or lsd
But a coupla quartsa beer
Would fix it so the intonation
Would not offend yer ear
And the same old chords goin' over 'n over
Became a symphony
We could play it again 'n again 'n again
'Cause it sounded good to me
One more time!
We could jam in joe's garage
His mama was screamin',
"turn it down!"
We was playin' the same old song
In the afternoon 'n sometimes we would
Play it all night long
It was all we knew, 'n easy too
So we wouldn't get it wrong
Even if you played it on a saxophone
We thought we was pretty good
We talked about keepin' the band together
'n we figured that we should
'cause about this time we was gettin' the eye
From the girls in the neighborhood
They'd all come over 'n dance around like . . .
So we picked out a stupid name
Had some cards printed up for a coupla bucks
'n we was on our way to fame
Got matching suits
'n beattle boots
'n a sign on the back of the car
'n we was ready to work in a go-go bar
One two three four
Let's see if you've got some more!
People seemed to like our song
They got up 'n danced 'n made a lotta noise
An' it wasn't 'fore very long
A guy from a company we can't name
Said we oughta take his pen
'n sign on the line for a real good time
But he didn't tell us when
These "good times" would be somethin'
That was really happenin'
So the band broke up
An' it looks like
We will never play again...
Guess you only get one chance in life
To play a song that goes like...
Turn it down!
Turn it down!
I have children sleeping here . . .
Don't you boys know any nice songs?
Well the years was rollin' by
Heavy metal 'n glitter rock
Had caught the public eye
Snotty boys with lipstick on
Was really flyin' high
'n then they got that disco thing
'n new wave came along
'n all of a sudden I thought the time
Had come for that old song
We used to play in "joe's garage"
And if I am not wrong
You will soon be dancin' to the . . .
Central scrutinizer:
The white zone is for loading and unloading only.
If you gotta load or unload, go to the white zone...
I said the years was rollin' by, yeah
The years was rollin' by...
I'm calling the police!
So the years was rollin' by...
I did it!
So the years was rollin' by...
They'll be here... shortly!
By, by, the years was rollin' by...
This is the police...
I'm not joking around anymore!
Come out!
We have the garage surrounded
The years was rollin' by...
Give yourself up
We will not harm you
Or hurt you, neither
I said the years was rollin' by . . .
You'll see now!
There they are, they're coming!
This is the police
Give yourself up
We will not harm you
The years was rollin' by . . .
Listen to that mess, would you!
This is the police
Give yourself up
We have the garage surrounded
Every day this goes on around here!
The years was rollin' by...
We will not harm you
Or maim you
(swat team 4, move in!)
The years was rollin' by . . .
He used to cut my grass . . .
He was a very nice boy . . .
This is the police
Come out with your hands up
This is the central scrutinizer . . .
That was joe's first confrontation with the law.
Naturally, we were easy on him.
One of our friendly counselors gave him
A do-nut . . . and told him to
Stick closer to church-oriented social activities.
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