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.
You can hold her hand
And show her how you cry
Explain to her your weakness so she understands
And then roll over and die
You can brave decisions
Before you crumble up inside
Spend your time asking everyone else's permission
Then run away and hide
You can sit on chimneys
With some fire up your ass
No need to know what you're doing or waiting for
But if ever anyone should ask
Tell them I've been licking coconut skins
And we've been hanging out
Tell them God just dropped by to forgive our sins
And relieve us our doubt
Lalala, lala, lala
Lalala, lala, lala
Lalala, lala, lala, lalalala
Lalala, lala, lala
Oh, you can hold her eggs
But your basket has a hole
You can lie between her legs and go looking for
Tell her you're searching for her soul
You can wait for ages
Watch your compost turn to coal
Time is contagious
Everybody's getting old
So you can sit on chimneys
With some fire up your ass
No need to know what you're doing or looking for
But if ever anyone should ask
Tell them I've been cooking coconut skins
And we've been hanging out
Tell them God just dropped by to forgive our sins
And relieve us our doubt
Lalala, lala, lala
Lalala, lala, lala
Lalala, lala, lala, lalalala
Lalala, lala, lala
Lalala, lala, lala
Lalala, lala, lala
Lalala, lala, lala, lalalala
Lalala, lala, lala
And show her how you cry
Explain to her your weakness so she understands
And then roll over and die
You can brave decisions
Before you crumble up inside
Spend your time asking everyone else's permission
Then run away and hide
You can sit on chimneys
With some fire up your ass
No need to know what you're doing or waiting for
But if ever anyone should ask
Tell them I've been licking coconut skins
And we've been hanging out
Tell them God just dropped by to forgive our sins
And relieve us our doubt
Lalala, lala, lala
Lalala, lala, lala
Lalala, lala, lala, lalalala
Lalala, lala, lala
Oh, you can hold her eggs
But your basket has a hole
You can lie between her legs and go looking for
Tell her you're searching for her soul
You can wait for ages
Watch your compost turn to coal
Time is contagious
Everybody's getting old
So you can sit on chimneys
With some fire up your ass
No need to know what you're doing or looking for
But if ever anyone should ask
Tell them I've been cooking coconut skins
And we've been hanging out
Tell them God just dropped by to forgive our sins
And relieve us our doubt
Lalala, lala, lala
Lalala, lala, lala
Lalala, lala, lala, lalalala
Lalala, lala, lala
Lalala, lala, lala
Lalala, lala, lala
Lalala, lala, lala, lalalala
Lalala, lala, lala
Lyrics submitted by davidecoyote
Coconut Skins Lyrics as written by Damien George Rice
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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I think all the themes are connected. My take:
First verse: Don't give away all the secrets that will make a relationship bland and unrewarding. Basically, don't become a whipped pussy; ie- roll over and die.
Second verse: Make brave decisions, don't just do whatever someone else tells you you can.
Chorus: You can be a pompous asshole who thinks he knows it all, and act like you have it all figured out. You can even figure you are one on one with God, but you're just a pretentious fool.
Third verse: You can't possibly be everything she wants, even if you try. Don't be too much of a romantic. Don't act like animal instinct is beneath you, because it's still part of you. You are most likely not having sex with her to become enlightened.
Fourth Verse: Don't spend your whole life waiting, we're all getting older and we won't be here forever.
The only thing I don't quite understand is the significance of coconut skins. Do people really eat, or lick, them? If so, then idk it just represents some mundane aspect of everyday life. And if not, maybe he's trying to say doing all these things is like licking coconut skins - unrewarding, not nourishing.
^^and that is all just my opinion, but I'm loving this song
Im not entirely sure what the coconut skins is, but I'd imagine licking a coconut wouldn't be the most pleasurable thing... so maybe there's a connection between the two, being like sometimes you gotta roll with the punches and do something you don't necessarily enjoy doing, some rough and raw lol
i think he is licking her slightly hairy pussy lips.
I have been led to believe there is a way of getting high of coconut skins. not the hard shell but the green soft stuff around it.
@letterstonoelle the girl he is dating is white... hence, "ive been licking coconut skin, we've been hanging out. he's just talking about the things he has been doing with this girl.
@letterstonoelle I believe “cooking coconut skins” is just some random act to waste your time doing and it doesn’t matter to whoever would ask.
Love the artist. Creative song. I believe it's about two choices. One choice is a steady relationship where every weakness is known and sometimes people don't measure up (i.e. the hole in his basket). The other choice is the wild life with little responsibility and a "fly by my pants" take on life. The former is scary because it involves love and commitment while the latter (which is what he decides to choose) is easy and safe. He doesn't have to answer to anyone (which is more exciting) and what's more important is he can't let anyone down.
Just in case people are wondering--not sure if anyone has commented on it already, or if this is just common knowledge (it wasn't for me lol)--from what I understand, coconut skins is actually a marijuana reference, or more precisely a reference to rolling papers. So, "I've been licking coconut skins..." in other words, he's been rolling some joints. Haven't we all..... :D.
Awesome song, definitely my favourite by him!
To me, this song is about a guy that is not a good catch because he will wait until it's too late to make a meaningful life for himself. (he'll open up his heart to the one he loves when he's on his death bed) A person that licks coconut skins and hangs out is like a surfer-pot head with no motivation to do much other than that. (nothing against surfers OR pot heads)
If the one that loves him puts all her eggs in his basket, she'll be sorry b/c his basket is faulted and she'll lose them.
He waits for others to tell him the way life should be rather than braving the decision himself. This guy better get a reall fire under his ass or else he's going to have to use a chimney to get one there...and that's just artificial.
To be honest I think this is a rather upbeat song and isn't supposed to be at all as pesimistic as you all think. If you're not working towards something you're wasting time. Everyone's rushing around, but nobody's really being themselves and just enjoying life.
And then come the chorus he's basically saying screw it all, next time somebody asks you tell them we've been hanging out and wasting time, and we don't need to feel bad about it or worry about anything. Hence God dropping by to relieve doubt.
I may be way off the mark but that's what I take from it.
'You can lie between her legs and go looking for… Tell her you’re searching for her soul'
best line of the album
What is this song about?? Can anyone explain it to me?
This song is consistent with a number of themes dealt with by Damien Rice. First, it is about doing whatever the hell you want and makes you feel good. To do with existentialism and the fact that we're all dead soon. Second, its about sex. The guy and the girl are thinking about having an illicit relationship. Damien rice is saying what the hell's the point in sneaking around or in not conducting the relationship if that's what they both want. In this way its a song of seduction. It's saying grow a pair (put some fire up your ass) and lets have sex. And if your so worried about what everyone else thinks, explain the pubic hairs caught in your teeth by claiming you've been licking coconut skins. Us getting it on? Nah we've just been hanging out, waiting for god to pop by, you know? cheers.
Now I could be wrong, but i think its like 4 different stories cause they dont all seem to be connected but i could be wrong.
Basicly, dont put your whole trust in someone untill you know for sure that it wont leave you ** up
I can't stand this song.
It sounds like it's trying too hard. But I'm not sure what it's trying too hard to do.
..I don't know, it just doesn't sound right. The rest of the album so far seems good though.