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.
She's really upset with me again
I didn't give her what she likes
I don't know what to tell her
Don't know what to say
Everything got funky last night
She was really bombed
And I was really blown away
Until I asked her what she wanted
And this is what she had to say:
A pearl necklace
She want a pearl necklace
She want a pearl necklace
She gets a charge out of bein' so weird
Digs gettin' downright strange
But I can keep a handle on anything
Just this side of deranged
She was gettin' bombed
And I was gettin' blown away
And she held it in her hand
And this is what she had to say:
A pearl necklace
She want a pearl necklace
She want a pearl necklace
She's so tough, as pure as the driven slush
And that's not jewelry she's talkin' about
It really don't cost that much
She was gettin' bombed
And I was gettin' blown away
And she took it in her hand
And this is what she had to say:
A pearl necklace
She want a pearl necklace
She want a pearl necklace
I didn't give her what she likes
I don't know what to tell her
Don't know what to say
Everything got funky last night
She was really bombed
And I was really blown away
Until I asked her what she wanted
And this is what she had to say:
A pearl necklace
She want a pearl necklace
She want a pearl necklace
She gets a charge out of bein' so weird
Digs gettin' downright strange
But I can keep a handle on anything
Just this side of deranged
She was gettin' bombed
And I was gettin' blown away
And she held it in her hand
And this is what she had to say:
A pearl necklace
She want a pearl necklace
She want a pearl necklace
She's so tough, as pure as the driven slush
And that's not jewelry she's talkin' about
It really don't cost that much
She was gettin' bombed
And I was gettin' blown away
And she took it in her hand
And this is what she had to say:
A pearl necklace
She want a pearl necklace
She want a pearl necklace
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by tworkman
Pearl Necklace Lyrics as written by Billy Gibbons Frank Beard
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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i'm 15 and my mom is a big fan of ZZ Top but she still doesn't believe me about what the true meaning of the song is...lol
i recently found out what a 'pearl necklace' even means on wikipedia.org and when I read that ZZ Top wrote a song about it I just had to see for myself. Oh, yeah. Definately the kind of pearl necklace he's talking about. Wish I could give one to my big-titted neighbor across the way.
Call her "big titted" to her face and she won't let you come anywhere near her. )Pun intended). You may wish to use slightly less offensive language if it is your desire to score with the ladies :)
i have given many a times cabrosa. though sadly never to this song. note to self give pearl necklace to this song
The lyric that says "And that's not true what she's talkin' 'bout" is really "And that's not JEWELRY she's talkin' 'bout" And last time I checked it really Don't cost that much...Ha Ha Haa too funny. Reminds me of the Creedence song SWEET HITCHHIKER "won't you ride on my face" if our parents only knew:)
I find it humorous that nobody has yet to state what exactly a pearl necklace is. I used to party to this song as a teen yet didn't know what it was really about until I was much older. He's saying she's drunk and a little warped in what she wants. He was happy just getting "blown away" (sexually, of course...why wouldn't he be happy:). "She took her hand" and then he gave her a "pearl necklace." ...He excreted his "love juices' around her neck. That's the entire song... in a nut shell. (Perhaps not the best choice of wording:). Fun track and written at a time when sexual songs had to be clevely disguised. Sometimes less blantant is better...
Go check out the words to "Brown Sugar." The Stones version (ZZ top also does a song called brown sugar but a different version). They wanted to call it "Black Pussy."
I have the Live in Texas album and the bit before they play this song is so funny. One of the guys says 'Jewellery. Pretty girls, in jewelery.' Then Billy's like 'I think it's a set up, I'm with you brother I think it's a set up. He doesn't look like he's getting ready to go to the gift shop to buy something shiny' lol!
It's a great song but it's not about jewelry!
lemme just say this song is NOT about jewelry :)! try urbandictionary.com
I'm glad I'm not the only one out there who knew this wasn't really about a neclace made of pearls! =)
(: heh. only reason i searched for it to see if anyone else knew. Old biker slang i believe. "what she's talking about really doesn't cost that much" good song.