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.
Well you can bump and grind
And it's good for your mind
Well you can twist and shout
Let it all hang out
But you won't fool the children of the revolution
No you won't fool the children of the revolution
No, no, no!
Well you can terraplane
In the fallin' rain
I drive a Rolls Royce
Cause it's good for my voice
But you won't fool the children of the revolution...
And it's good for your mind
Well you can twist and shout
Let it all hang out
But you won't fool the children of the revolution
No you won't fool the children of the revolution
No, no, no!
Well you can terraplane
In the fallin' rain
I drive a Rolls Royce
Cause it's good for my voice
But you won't fool the children of the revolution...
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I always think it's taking a pop at John Lennon. He wrote "Imagine", which he claimed was a musical setting of "The Manifesto of the Communist Party", but he owned a Rolls Royce and a large mansion, neither of which fits well with the Communist system he was advocating. He also sang a cover version of "Twist and Shout" with The Beatles.
It could also be seen as a criticism of hypocrisy in music generally.
I believe this song critisizes poser bands that sell themselves through the call revolutions. I think the song specifically mentions the beatles as of these bands, because of the 'twist and shout' and (john's) rolls royce references.
Apparently it was just about teenager rebellion. Or trying to encapsulate the rebellious attitude that teenagers hold.
I always thought it was about the counterculture of the 60s but after a quick Google search it seems as if no one else has made that connection.
I'm not the biggest TRex fan (well actually this is the only song of theirs I know) but I have always liked this song. Just because in my mind, I had it romantically linked to 60's youths challenging the orthodoxy of the establishment and (for the most part) winning.
kool kool kool!!!
oh yeah, who saw Pete Dohertys verson on Live 8?
hmm, don't mention the Doherty version. Terrible! But anyway this song rocks! Basically what it means in the title, just sing along to it guys!
Kick ass song (not the best lyrics though), can't stop the youth who are taking over and causing the revolution
it means smoking tons of crack with Pete backstage before his Live8 performance..Hey, has anyone seen my lighter?? I just had it a second ago but I gave it to Pete....
I think that the song is about glam rock poser bands. Poser bands may be even more popular than the real thing (Hence the "I drive a Rolls Royce 'Cos it's good for my voice" line"), but they only fool wannabe pre-teens ("But you won't fool The children of the revolution").
Funnily enough, things have not changed since the seventies.
This song is like heavy but still fun. Makes me think of a gray city on a cloudy day. I loved the scene on Billy Elliot (where theres a lot of TRex music) where they play this song with Billy and this girl he likes fighting with pillows (OH and did you notice her wall with white swans on it?? Ride a white swan!!!!!)