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.
Step right up, step right up, step right up
Everyone's a winner, bargains galore
That's right, you too can be the proud owner
Of the quality goes in before the name goes on
One-tenth of a dollar, one-tenth of a dollar
We got service after sales
How 'bout perfume? We got perfume, how 'bout an engagement ring?
Something for the little lady, something for the little lady
Something for the little lady, hmm
Three for a dollar
We got a year-end clearance, we got our white sale
And our smoke-damaged furniture, you can drive it away today
Act now, act now and receive as our gift, our gift to you
They come in all colors, one size fits all
No muss, no fuss, no spills, you're tired of kitchen drudgery
Everything must go, going out of business, going out of business
Going out of business sale
Fifty percent off original retail price, skip the middle man
Don't settle for less
How do we do it? How do we do it?
Volume, volume, turn up the volume
Now you've heard it advertised, don't hesitate
Don't be caught with your drawers down
Don't be caught with your drawers down
You can step right up, step right up
That's right, it filets, it chops, it dices, slices
Never stops, lasts a lifetime, mows your lawn
And it mows your lawn and it picks up the kids from school
It gets rid of unwanted facial hair
It gets rid of embarrassing age spots
It delivers a pizza and it lengthens and it strengthens
And it finds that slipper that's been at large
Under the chaise lounge for several weeks
And it plays a mean Rhythm Master
It makes excuses for unwanted lipstick on your collar
And it's only a dollar, step right up
It's only a dollar, step right up
'Cause it forges your signature
If not completely satisfied, mail back unused portion of product
For complete refund of price of purchase
Step right up
Please allow thirty days for delivery
Don't be fooled by cheap imitations
You can live in it, live in it, laugh in it, love in it
Swim in it, sleep in it
Live in it, swim in it, laugh in it, love in it
Removes embarrassing stains from contour sheets that's right
And it entertains visiting relatives
It turns a sandwich into a banquet
Tired of being the life of the party?
Change your shorts, change your life, change your life
Change into a nine-year-old Hindu boy, get rid of your wife
And it walks your dog and it doubles on sax
Doubles on sax, you can jump back Jack
See you later alligator, see you later alligator
And it steals your car
It gets rid of your gambling debts, it quits smoking
It's a friend, it's a companion
It's the only product you will ever need
Follow these easy assembly instructions, it never needs ironing
Well, it takes weights off hips, bust, thighs, chin, midriff
Gives you dandruff and it finds you a job, it is a job
And it strips the phone company free, take ten for five exchange
And it gives you denture breath
And you know it's a friend and, and it's a companion
And it gets rid of your traveler's checks
It's new, it's improved, it's old-fashioned
Well, it takes care of business
Never needs winding, never needs winding, never needs winding
Gets rid of blackheads, heartbreak, or psoriasis
Christ, you don't know the meaning of heartbreak, buddy
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon
'Cause it's effective, it's defective, it creates household odors
It disinfects, it's sanitized for your protection
It gives you an erection, it wins the election
Why put up with painful corns any longer?
It's a redeemable coupon, no obligation
No salesman will visit your home
We got a jackpot, jackpot, jackpot
Prizes, prizes, prizes
All work guaranteed
How do we do it? How do we do it?
How do we do it? How do we do it?
We need your business, we're going out of business
We'll give you the business
Get on the business end of our going-out-of-business sale
Receive our free brochure, free brochure
Read the easy-to-follow assembly instructions
Batteries not included
Send before midnight tomorrow, terms available
Step right up, step right up, step right up
You got it, buddy, the large print giveth
And the small print taketh away
Step right up, you can step right up, you can step right up
C'mon, step right up
Ah, get away from me kid, you're botherin' me
Step right up, step right up, step right up,
Ah, mmm, ah
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon
Step right up, you can step right up, c'mon and step right up
C'mon and step right up
Everyone's a winner, bargains galore
That's right, you too can be the proud owner
Of the quality goes in before the name goes on
One-tenth of a dollar, one-tenth of a dollar
We got service after sales
How 'bout perfume? We got perfume, how 'bout an engagement ring?
Something for the little lady, something for the little lady
Something for the little lady, hmm
Three for a dollar
We got a year-end clearance, we got our white sale
And our smoke-damaged furniture, you can drive it away today
Act now, act now and receive as our gift, our gift to you
They come in all colors, one size fits all
No muss, no fuss, no spills, you're tired of kitchen drudgery
Everything must go, going out of business, going out of business
Going out of business sale
Fifty percent off original retail price, skip the middle man
Don't settle for less
How do we do it? How do we do it?
Volume, volume, turn up the volume
Now you've heard it advertised, don't hesitate
Don't be caught with your drawers down
Don't be caught with your drawers down
You can step right up, step right up
That's right, it filets, it chops, it dices, slices
Never stops, lasts a lifetime, mows your lawn
And it mows your lawn and it picks up the kids from school
It gets rid of unwanted facial hair
It gets rid of embarrassing age spots
It delivers a pizza and it lengthens and it strengthens
And it finds that slipper that's been at large
Under the chaise lounge for several weeks
And it plays a mean Rhythm Master
It makes excuses for unwanted lipstick on your collar
And it's only a dollar, step right up
It's only a dollar, step right up
'Cause it forges your signature
If not completely satisfied, mail back unused portion of product
For complete refund of price of purchase
Step right up
Please allow thirty days for delivery
Don't be fooled by cheap imitations
You can live in it, live in it, laugh in it, love in it
Swim in it, sleep in it
Live in it, swim in it, laugh in it, love in it
Removes embarrassing stains from contour sheets that's right
And it entertains visiting relatives
It turns a sandwich into a banquet
Tired of being the life of the party?
Change your shorts, change your life, change your life
Change into a nine-year-old Hindu boy, get rid of your wife
And it walks your dog and it doubles on sax
Doubles on sax, you can jump back Jack
See you later alligator, see you later alligator
And it steals your car
It gets rid of your gambling debts, it quits smoking
It's a friend, it's a companion
It's the only product you will ever need
Follow these easy assembly instructions, it never needs ironing
Well, it takes weights off hips, bust, thighs, chin, midriff
Gives you dandruff and it finds you a job, it is a job
And it strips the phone company free, take ten for five exchange
And it gives you denture breath
And you know it's a friend and, and it's a companion
And it gets rid of your traveler's checks
It's new, it's improved, it's old-fashioned
Well, it takes care of business
Never needs winding, never needs winding, never needs winding
Gets rid of blackheads, heartbreak, or psoriasis
Christ, you don't know the meaning of heartbreak, buddy
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon
'Cause it's effective, it's defective, it creates household odors
It disinfects, it's sanitized for your protection
It gives you an erection, it wins the election
Why put up with painful corns any longer?
It's a redeemable coupon, no obligation
No salesman will visit your home
We got a jackpot, jackpot, jackpot
Prizes, prizes, prizes
All work guaranteed
How do we do it? How do we do it?
How do we do it? How do we do it?
We need your business, we're going out of business
We'll give you the business
Get on the business end of our going-out-of-business sale
Receive our free brochure, free brochure
Read the easy-to-follow assembly instructions
Batteries not included
Send before midnight tomorrow, terms available
Step right up, step right up, step right up
You got it, buddy, the large print giveth
And the small print taketh away
Step right up, you can step right up, you can step right up
C'mon, step right up
Ah, get away from me kid, you're botherin' me
Step right up, step right up, step right up,
Ah, mmm, ah
C'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon, c'mon
Step right up, you can step right up, c'mon and step right up
C'mon and step right up
Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira
Step Right Up Lyrics as written by Thomas Alan Waits
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, JALMA MUSIC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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sounds like he's trying to sell drugs. "service after sales, No muss, no fuss, no spills, you're tired of kitchen drudgery, it slices it dices and it lasts a lifetime, it forges your signature and gives you excuses for the lipstick on your collar. it's a friend, a companion, and gives you denture breath, etc etc etc etc." so tom's a drug salesman now...
C'mon, man! Not everything is written in code! You're obviously too young to remember the Ronco ads of the 70s. More annoying than the godawful Oxyclean, Magic Hose, "Make You POS a Brand New Car crap" ads now.<br /> <br /> As hysterically funny as the whole song is, the line "The large print giveth & the small print taketh away" says it all!
Tom Waits is a genious and I absolutly love this song. It is defenitely about the snakey salesmen that live and are around today. It does everything and that is exactly where our country is headed today. We will soon have this one product that does all for us, just look at the ipod, turned video game, turned internet accessable, pretty soon you will be able to rent movies and basically everything else that Tom Waits says
And just think, he wrote this song 40 years ago.....
I love the part where it sounds like he's turned around the is shoving away some kid while mumbling, "Get away from me kid you're bothering me..."
Very impressive if you can sing along with the entire song haha.
@IrishMan44 that's a reference to a line made famous by WC Fields, a famous comedian back in the day who often played a rude drunkard on screen. Google him to see it in context
god... this song is marvellous! i hadn't read the lyrics, and now i find that it's about somebody trying to sell something to another guy! hahaha, Tom Waits is a true genius
truly, it's as if no one can comment on his music except for Waits himself
I think the song is about more than a man trying to sell some products to another man. Obviosly this represents the consumption-community, and how money and possesion determens our whole life. For example: "That's right, it filets, it chops, it dices, slices, Never stops, lasts a lifetime, mows your lawn And it mows your lawn and it picks up the kids from school " this passage is about how people sell their responsabilities to other people. "Tired of being the life of the party? Change your shorts, change your life, change your life " is about the way businessman, and commercial developers use our complexes to make us buy their products(beautyproducts...)
Its about how ridiculously commercialised everything has become...
Totally. Ironically, The Frito-Lay company totally ripped off this song and used it (well, a song based on it) in a commercial selling Doritos. Tom Waits sued them and won - he's one of the few artists left with the integrity to not want his music used in commercials.
Tom Waits is awesome this song is about snake oil salesmen on the surface, it's just a fun song to listen to.
There's stuff in there typical of all different kinds of advertising, from print ("Read the easy-to-follow assembly instructions, batteries not included") to TV ("No muss, no fuss, no spills, you're tired of kitchen drudgery") to the sketchy guy selling fake rolexes and cheap jewelry on the street ("How 'bout perfume? We got perfume! Something for the little lady"). I like some of Tom's surreal warping of ad cliches; notice that it gives you dandruff and denture breath rather than curing these things, and that it doesn't actually clean unwanted lipstick stains on your collar, it just makes up a good excuse for you to tell your girlfriend when she notices them.