Like a lot of the other comments are saying, I think this mainly about voyeurism. If the song was about his girlfriend, then why would he use the word spy. If you are a spy it means you shouldn't be caught, that is kind of the whole point, and if you are a voyeur, the whole point of the pleasure you get from it, is the fact that the other people don't know you are watching them. See a bit of a connection there?
It ain't a needle in a vein
It ain't backstage sex
It ain't lines of cocaine on a private jet
It ain't havin' a posse full of hangers on following you around
It ain't long hair, tattoos, playin' too loud (no)
It ain't a middle finger on a t-shirt, the establishments tryin' to sell
It's a guy with the balls who told the establishment to go to hell
It ain't about the money you make, when a record gets sold
It's about doin' it for nothin', 'cause it lives in your soul
That's damn rock and roll
That's damn rock and roll
It's a rock through a window
It's a ride in the street
It's a rebel revolution
It's fightin' for pieces
Burn baby burn
It's a brick in the wall
It's the first one to stand
And the last one to fall
It's a hip shaking devil on the stage in Tuepelo
It's doing what ya want instead of doin' what your told
It's a preacher by the wreck tellin' folks they outta pray
'Cause the shepherd boy gets them
And lead the flock a stray
That's damn rock and roll
Give all ya got 'til there ain't nothin' left
That's damn rock and roll
Get some grass cause the party
And the party got loud
And the party turned into an angry crowd
Drowning demons feel no pain
Found a lot of ways to shame
Gone too soon just like a song
Hendrix Joplin what went wrong?
Need some answers right or wrong
Need some band to blame it on
(Blame it on)
(Blame it on)
(Blame it on)
(Blame it on)
(Blame it on)
(Blame it on)
(Blame it on)
(Blame it on)
(Blame it on)
(Blame it on)
That's damn rock and roll
(Give all ya got 'til there ain't nothing left)
That's damn rock and roll
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Another day
In another town
Loadin' the stage, and the lights, and the sound
Here they come boys
They've opened doors
Count us off now Craig
(One, two, three, four)
That's damn rock and roll
Give all ya go 'til there ain't nothin' left
That's damn rock and roll
Gather round 'til you've broken a sweat
That's damn rock
That's damn rock and roll
(Rock and roll)
(Rock and roll)
(Rock and roll)
(Rock and roll)
(Rock and roll)
It ain't backstage sex
It ain't lines of cocaine on a private jet
It ain't havin' a posse full of hangers on following you around
It ain't long hair, tattoos, playin' too loud (no)
It ain't a middle finger on a t-shirt, the establishments tryin' to sell
It's a guy with the balls who told the establishment to go to hell
It ain't about the money you make, when a record gets sold
It's about doin' it for nothin', 'cause it lives in your soul
That's damn rock and roll
That's damn rock and roll
It's a rock through a window
It's a ride in the street
It's a rebel revolution
It's fightin' for pieces
Burn baby burn
It's a brick in the wall
It's the first one to stand
And the last one to fall
It's a hip shaking devil on the stage in Tuepelo
It's doing what ya want instead of doin' what your told
It's a preacher by the wreck tellin' folks they outta pray
'Cause the shepherd boy gets them
And lead the flock a stray
That's damn rock and roll
Give all ya got 'til there ain't nothin' left
That's damn rock and roll
Get some grass cause the party
And the party got loud
And the party turned into an angry crowd
Drowning demons feel no pain
Found a lot of ways to shame
Gone too soon just like a song
Hendrix Joplin what went wrong?
Need some answers right or wrong
Need some band to blame it on
(Blame it on)
(Blame it on)
(Blame it on)
(Blame it on)
(Blame it on)
(Blame it on)
(Blame it on)
(Blame it on)
(Blame it on)
(Blame it on)
That's damn rock and roll
(Give all ya got 'til there ain't nothing left)
That's damn rock and roll
Oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh oh oh
Oh oh oh oh oh
Another day
In another town
Loadin' the stage, and the lights, and the sound
Here they come boys
They've opened doors
Count us off now Craig
(One, two, three, four)
That's damn rock and roll
Give all ya go 'til there ain't nothin' left
That's damn rock and roll
Gather round 'til you've broken a sweat
That's damn rock
That's damn rock and roll
(Rock and roll)
(Rock and roll)
(Rock and roll)
(Rock and roll)
(Rock and roll)
Lyrics submitted by harderman61, edited by timmore
That's Damn Rock & Roll Lyrics as written by Michael Heeney Casey Beathard
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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.
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
havin' a posse full of hangers on following you around
It's about what rock n roll really is and what it isn't. I'm surprised he or one of the co-writers didn't put Marilyn Manson for the part "Need some band to blame it on" because they've been blamed for the school shootings that have been going on.