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.
Twelve men broke loose in seventy-three
From Millhaven maximum security
Twelve pictures lined up across the front page
Seems the Mounties had a summertime war to wage
Well, he chief told the people they had nothing to fear
Said, "the last thing they wanna do is hang around here"
They mostly came from towns with long French names
But one of the dozen was a hometown shame
Same pattern on the table, same clock on the wall
Been one seat empty, eighteen years in all
Freezing slow time, away from the world
He's thirty-eight years old, never kissed a girl
He's thirty-eight years old, never kissed a girl
We were sitting around the table, heard the telephone ring
Father said he'd tell 'em if he saw anything
Heard the tap on the window in the middle of the night
Held back the curtains for my older brother Mike
See my sister got raped, so a man got killed
Local boy went to prison, man's buried on the hill
Folks went back to normal when they closed the case
They still stare at their shoes when they pass our place
My mother cried, "the horror has finally ceased"
He whispered, "yeah, for the time being at least"
Over his shoulder on the squad car megaphone
Said, "let's go Michael, son, we're taking you home"
Same pattern on the table, same clock on the wall
Been one seat empty, eighteen years in all
Freezing slow time, away from the world
He's thirty-eight years old, never kissed a girl
He's thirty-eight years old, never kissed a girl
He's thirty-eight years old, never kissed a girl
From Millhaven maximum security
Twelve pictures lined up across the front page
Seems the Mounties had a summertime war to wage
Well, he chief told the people they had nothing to fear
Said, "the last thing they wanna do is hang around here"
They mostly came from towns with long French names
But one of the dozen was a hometown shame
Same pattern on the table, same clock on the wall
Been one seat empty, eighteen years in all
Freezing slow time, away from the world
He's thirty-eight years old, never kissed a girl
He's thirty-eight years old, never kissed a girl
We were sitting around the table, heard the telephone ring
Father said he'd tell 'em if he saw anything
Heard the tap on the window in the middle of the night
Held back the curtains for my older brother Mike
See my sister got raped, so a man got killed
Local boy went to prison, man's buried on the hill
Folks went back to normal when they closed the case
They still stare at their shoes when they pass our place
My mother cried, "the horror has finally ceased"
He whispered, "yeah, for the time being at least"
Over his shoulder on the squad car megaphone
Said, "let's go Michael, son, we're taking you home"
Same pattern on the table, same clock on the wall
Been one seat empty, eighteen years in all
Freezing slow time, away from the world
He's thirty-eight years old, never kissed a girl
He's thirty-eight years old, never kissed a girl
He's thirty-eight years old, never kissed a girl
Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death
38 Years Old Lyrics as written by Gordon Sinclair Gordon Downie
Lyrics © Peermusic Publishing
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I for one am an American and friggin LOVE the Tragically Hip. Gord is the most intelligent and talented songwriter in this day and age...if not in any day and age. I have been a fan since I heard "New Orleans Is Sinking" on CFNY. I think that "Day For Night" has to be the quintessential album - well balanced, thought provoking, and lyrically rich. Of course, I AM from a border town (Niagara Falls, NY) so maybe the Canadian-ness has leaked over the border...
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wow this song has some of the best lyrics ive ever heard, i hate how the hip get no respect here in the states, but then again it only makes me appreciate them more. luckily im from buffalo so they stop here on every tour
Got my tickets to see them on July 12th for the second time. -Very- excited! They are the Canadian gods of music! Esp. Gordie....love him.
The first line is fact, Milhaven Maximum security penitentary is about 100 yards away from me., in Millhaven, Ontario. There are probably about 400 people who live in millhaven, and 2,000 who live in Bath where I live, which is right beside it. Anyways, it is one of the worst prisons in Canada, and there was a famous young inmate there who was on his way out of prison when a riot broke out and a guard was killed, somehow he got laid with the murder charged and spent the next 30 years or so locked up for something he didn't do. I can't remember the name off hand of the guy but he eventually got out. Anyway the hip are from nearby Kingston so there wrote about this story. Thats what the song is about.
The Hip's recording studio "the Bathouse" is also located right there, on the edge of Bath & Lake Ontario.
A good intro I like of his to Wheat Kings is "It's a good thing we don't have capital punishment in a very rough angry sound, it's hilarious" another one for Nautical Disaster he was like, "No Canadian band is complete without a song of a Nautical Disaster, this is a song about a nautical disaster, and it's called Nautical Disaster"
this song is very sad, i love it. The guy went to prison for killing a guy who raped his sister? i would kill anyone who raped my sister, no question i would hunt them down. But go to jail for revenge? He deserved it i say! I guess law doesnt see it the same way, they feel that people should leave punishments to the police, that is if the police are even able to catch the scum. I also hate the end where they're like "lets go michael son, we're taking you home"
america isn't ready for the tragically hip. gordie and co. make music that is far too intelligent and good for the simple minded, pop-grubbing jackasses that pollute the u.s. the hip rocks.
The average man anywhere can't handle the complexity and intelligence of true art. That applies to Canada as well as the U.S. Brilliant art comes out of the U.S also... Drive By Truckers are a witty and complex band straight out of the south. They aren't in the mainstream, but I think there's no argument that the mainstream is for the "average" (read: simple) masses.
Thinkin' hurts. lol
LMAO I won't comment on that....just nod my head in agreement..heh The Hip are gods
i, too, love the tragically hip. this song (as well as, you know, every other song by tth) is simply amazing.