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.
First man to die
For the flag we now hold high (crispus attucks)
Was a black man
The ground were we stand
With the flag held in our hand
Was first the redman's
Guide of a ship
On the first Columbus trip (pedro alonzo nino)
Was a brown man
The railroads for trains
Came on tracking that was laid
By the yellow man
We pledge allegiance
All our lives
To the magic colors
Red, blue and white
But we all must be given
The liberty that we defend
For with justice not for all men
History will repeat again
It's time we learned
This world was made for all men
Heart surgery
Was first done successfully
By a black man
Friendly man who died
But helped the pilgrims to survive
Was a redman
Farm workers rights
Were lifted to new heights
By a brown man
Incandescent light
Was invented to give sight
By the white man
We pledge allegiance
All our lives
To the magic colors
Red, blue and white
But we all must be given
The liberty that we defend
For with justice not for all men
History will repeat again
It's time we learned
This world was made for all men
Here me out
Now I know the birthday of a nation
Is a time when a country celebrates
But as your hand touches your heart
Remember we all played a part in america
To help that banner wave
First clock to be made
In america was created
By a black man
Scout who used no chart
Helped lead lewis and clark
Was a redman
Use of martial arts
In our country got its start
By a yellow man
And the leader with a pen
Signed his name to free all men
Was a white man
We pledge allegiance
All our lives
To the magic colors
Red, blue and white
But we all must be given
The liberty that we defend
For with justice not for all men
History will repeat again
It's time we learned
This world was made for all men
God saved his world for all men
All people
All babies
All children
All colors
All races
This world's for you
And me
This world
My world
Your world
Everybody's world
This world
Their world
Our world
This world was made for all men
Who was the first man to set foot on the North Pole?
Matthew Henson, a black man
Who was the first American to show the Pilgrims at Plymouth the secrets of survival in the new world?
Squanto, a red man
Who was the soldier of Company G who won high honors for extraordinary heroism in World War 1?
Sing Kee, a yellow man
Who was the leader of united farm workers and helped farm workers maintain dignity and respect?
Caesar Chavez, a brown man
Who was the founder of blood plasma and the director of the Red Cross blood bank?
Dr. Charles Drew, a black man
Who was the great American heroine who aided the Lewis and Clark expedition?
Sacajewa, a red woman
Who was the famous educator and semanticist who made outstanding contributions to education in America?
Hayakawa, a yellow man
Who invented the world's first stop light and the gas mask?
Garrett Morgan, a black man
Who was the American surgeon who was one of the founders of neurosurgery?
Harvey Williams Cushing, a white man
Who was the man who helped design the nation's capitol
Made the first clock to give time in America and wrote the first almanac?
Benjamin Banneker, a black man
Who was the legendary hero who helped establish the League of Iroquois?
Hiawatha, a red man
Who was the leader of the first microbiotic center in America?
Micho Kushi, a yellow man
Who was the founder of the city of Chicago in 1772?
Jean Baptiste, a black man
Who was one of the organizers of the American Indian Movement?
Denis Banks, a red man
Who was the Jewish financier who raised funds to sponsor Christopher Columbus' voyage to America?
Lewis D. Santangel, a white man
Who was the woman who led countless slaves to freedom on the underground railroad?
Harriet Tubman, a black woman
For the flag we now hold high (crispus attucks)
Was a black man
The ground were we stand
With the flag held in our hand
Was first the redman's
Guide of a ship
On the first Columbus trip (pedro alonzo nino)
Was a brown man
The railroads for trains
Came on tracking that was laid
By the yellow man
We pledge allegiance
All our lives
To the magic colors
Red, blue and white
But we all must be given
The liberty that we defend
For with justice not for all men
History will repeat again
It's time we learned
This world was made for all men
Heart surgery
Was first done successfully
By a black man
Friendly man who died
But helped the pilgrims to survive
Was a redman
Farm workers rights
Were lifted to new heights
By a brown man
Incandescent light
Was invented to give sight
By the white man
We pledge allegiance
All our lives
To the magic colors
Red, blue and white
But we all must be given
The liberty that we defend
For with justice not for all men
History will repeat again
It's time we learned
This world was made for all men
Here me out
Now I know the birthday of a nation
Is a time when a country celebrates
But as your hand touches your heart
Remember we all played a part in america
To help that banner wave
First clock to be made
In america was created
By a black man
Scout who used no chart
Helped lead lewis and clark
Was a redman
Use of martial arts
In our country got its start
By a yellow man
And the leader with a pen
Signed his name to free all men
Was a white man
We pledge allegiance
All our lives
To the magic colors
Red, blue and white
But we all must be given
The liberty that we defend
For with justice not for all men
History will repeat again
It's time we learned
This world was made for all men
God saved his world for all men
All people
All babies
All children
All colors
All races
This world's for you
And me
This world
My world
Your world
Everybody's world
This world
Their world
Our world
This world was made for all men
Who was the first man to set foot on the North Pole?
Matthew Henson, a black man
Who was the first American to show the Pilgrims at Plymouth the secrets of survival in the new world?
Squanto, a red man
Who was the soldier of Company G who won high honors for extraordinary heroism in World War 1?
Sing Kee, a yellow man
Who was the leader of united farm workers and helped farm workers maintain dignity and respect?
Caesar Chavez, a brown man
Who was the founder of blood plasma and the director of the Red Cross blood bank?
Dr. Charles Drew, a black man
Who was the great American heroine who aided the Lewis and Clark expedition?
Sacajewa, a red woman
Who was the famous educator and semanticist who made outstanding contributions to education in America?
Hayakawa, a yellow man
Who invented the world's first stop light and the gas mask?
Garrett Morgan, a black man
Who was the American surgeon who was one of the founders of neurosurgery?
Harvey Williams Cushing, a white man
Who was the man who helped design the nation's capitol
Made the first clock to give time in America and wrote the first almanac?
Benjamin Banneker, a black man
Who was the legendary hero who helped establish the League of Iroquois?
Hiawatha, a red man
Who was the leader of the first microbiotic center in America?
Micho Kushi, a yellow man
Who was the founder of the city of Chicago in 1772?
Jean Baptiste, a black man
Who was one of the organizers of the American Indian Movement?
Denis Banks, a red man
Who was the Jewish financier who raised funds to sponsor Christopher Columbus' voyage to America?
Lewis D. Santangel, a white man
Who was the woman who led countless slaves to freedom on the underground railroad?
Harriet Tubman, a black woman
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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All true facts, and well researched!
"First man to die for the flag we now hold high" = Crispus Attucks
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crispus_Attucks
"Guide of a ship on the first Columbus trip" = Pedro Alonzo Niño
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pedro_Alonso_Ni%C3%B1o
"The railroads for trains came on tracking that was laid by the yellow man" = Chinese railroad workers
web.stanford.edu/group/chineserailroad/cgi-bin/wordpress/
"Heart surgery was first done successfully by a black man" = Daniel Hale Williams (actually he was the second, but still...)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Hale_Williams
"Friendly man who died but helped the pilgrims to survive was a redman" = Squanto
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squanto
"Farm workers rights were lifted to new heights by a brown man" = Cesar Chavez
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cesar_Chavez
"Incandescent light was invented to give sight by the white man" = Thomas Edison, of course
(No link necessary--I mean, really, if you don't know who Thomas Edison is...)
"First clock to be made in America was created by a black man" = Benjamin Banneker
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Banneker
"Scout who used no chart helped lead Lewis and Clark was a redman" (actually a red WOMAN) --> Sacajawea
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sacagawea
"Use of martial arts in our country got its start by a yellow man" --> This is undoubtedly true, though no one knows for sure who brought Asian martial arts here first. The closest we can get is Kanō Jigorō, who invented Judo and was on the Olympic committee as early as 1909.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kan%C5%8D_Jigor%C5%8D
"And the leader with a pen signed his name to free all men was a white man" --> Abraham Lincoln, obviously
(Ditto what I said for Edison)
@Starwatcher23 if you listen closely, Stevie Wonder does refer to Sacajawea as a "Red woman" at 3:08.
This is my favorite song from "Songs in the Key of Lif." Obviously shows how America truly was built by people of all races and backgrounds and that we should all drop our troubles and work together.
Just got Songs in the Key of Life. As a music fan should have had it a long time ago but Stevie's gonna be at Bonnaroo!
anyway the first minute or so I thought, "oh no another song by a black artist denouncing whites and only celebrating black discoveries" well im glad I was wrong because this is a very good message saying how we all contribute. this is very important especially with racists of all races (wrongfully) claiming they are the essential inventors.
peace and unity brandon