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.
Haji was a punk just like any other boy
And he never had no trouble 'til he started up his oi band
Safe in the garage or singing in the tub
'Til Haji went too far and he plugged in at the pub
'Twas a cold Christmas Eve when Trevor and the skins
Popped in for a pint and to nick a bag of crisps
Trevor liked the music but not the Unity
He unwound Haji's turban and he knocked him to his knees
If God came down on Christmas Day
I know exactly what He'd say
He'd say oi to the punks and oi to the skins
But oi to the world and everybody wins
Haji was a bloody mess, he ran out through the crowd
He said, "We'll meet again we are bloody but not unbowed"
Trevor called his bluff and told him where to meet
Christmas day on the roof down at twenty Oxford Street
If God came down on Christmas Day
I know exactly what He'd say
He'd say oi to the punks and oi to the skins
But oi to the world and everybody wins
On the roof with the nun chucks Trevor broke a lot of bones
But Haji had a sword like that guy in Indiana Jones
Police sirens wailing, a bloody dying man
Haji was alone and abandoned by his band
Trevor was there fading and still so full of hate
When the skins left him there and went down the fire escape (oi oi)
And Haji saw the north star shining more then ever
So he made a tourniquet from his turban saving Trevor
They repelled down the roof with the rest of the turban
And went back to the pub where they bought each other bourbon
If God came down on Christmas Day
I know exactly what He'd say
He'd say oi to the punks and oi to the skins
Oi to the world and everybody wins
If God came down on Christmas Day
I know exactly what He'd say
He'd say oi to the punks and oi to the skins
But oi to the world and everybody wins (oi oi)
And he never had no trouble 'til he started up his oi band
Safe in the garage or singing in the tub
'Til Haji went too far and he plugged in at the pub
'Twas a cold Christmas Eve when Trevor and the skins
Popped in for a pint and to nick a bag of crisps
Trevor liked the music but not the Unity
He unwound Haji's turban and he knocked him to his knees
If God came down on Christmas Day
I know exactly what He'd say
He'd say oi to the punks and oi to the skins
But oi to the world and everybody wins
Haji was a bloody mess, he ran out through the crowd
He said, "We'll meet again we are bloody but not unbowed"
Trevor called his bluff and told him where to meet
Christmas day on the roof down at twenty Oxford Street
If God came down on Christmas Day
I know exactly what He'd say
He'd say oi to the punks and oi to the skins
But oi to the world and everybody wins
On the roof with the nun chucks Trevor broke a lot of bones
But Haji had a sword like that guy in Indiana Jones
Police sirens wailing, a bloody dying man
Haji was alone and abandoned by his band
Trevor was there fading and still so full of hate
When the skins left him there and went down the fire escape (oi oi)
And Haji saw the north star shining more then ever
So he made a tourniquet from his turban saving Trevor
They repelled down the roof with the rest of the turban
And went back to the pub where they bought each other bourbon
If God came down on Christmas Day
I know exactly what He'd say
He'd say oi to the punks and oi to the skins
Oi to the world and everybody wins
If God came down on Christmas Day
I know exactly what He'd say
He'd say oi to the punks and oi to the skins
But oi to the world and everybody wins (oi oi)
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this isn't really a NO DOUBT song its by THE VANDALS it's fron the c.d. Oi to the World
I like the Vandals version much more.
I agree. Dave's more fun than Gwen.
well, it's covered by No Doubt and they made a video for it too so it's under the No Doubt section
no doubt is the definition of sellout...ska gone pop, my friends.
finally! i thiought i was the only one who hated their new style!!!
Hahaha, no. Most people hate their new stuff. They started to crap when Eric Stefani left the band. But whatever, I like this cover - I think that the Vandals version is really good, but this one is cool too because they made it more ska. =Þ
yes, their new stuff is worse than i thought they'd ever get, and usually covers aren't as good as the original.
Most people don't hate their new stuff.
No Doubt, esp. Gwen, have always been known to be highly influenced by the music and culture around them. It's really silly to bash them. At least I can count on No Doubt's style & lyrics to be non-pornographic, non-political, non-controversal, and almost entirely non-religious.
Though I'm sure you'll consider my opinion bias.