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.
Thin hung the web like a trap in a cage,
The fox lay asleep in his lair
Fang's frantic paws told the tale of his sin.
Far off the chase shrieked revenge.
Outcast he trespassed where no wolf may tread,
The last sacred haunt of the dead.
He learnt of the truth which only one wolf may know,
The sceptre and crown of the king.
Howling for blood, One-eye leads on the pack,
Plunging through forests and snow-storm.
Steep rose the ridge, ghostly peaks climbed the sky,
Fang sped through the jungles of ice.
Hard on his tale, One-eye drew from the pack
An old hero conquered by none.
Steep, for too steep grew the pathway ahead
Descent was the only escape
A wolf never flees in the face of his foe
Fang knew the price he would pay
One-eye stood before him
With the crown upon his head
Sceptre raised to deal the deadly blow.
Fang, son of great Fang, the Traitor we seek,
The laws of the Brethren say this
That only the King sees the Crown of the Gods
And he, the Usurper must die
Snarling he tore at the throat of his foe
But Fang fought the hero in vain
Dawn saw the white mountain tinted with red
Never would the crown leave again
One-eye hid the crown and with laurels on his head
Returned amongst the tribe and dwelt in peace.
The fox lay asleep in his lair
Fang's frantic paws told the tale of his sin.
Far off the chase shrieked revenge.
Outcast he trespassed where no wolf may tread,
The last sacred haunt of the dead.
He learnt of the truth which only one wolf may know,
The sceptre and crown of the king.
Howling for blood, One-eye leads on the pack,
Plunging through forests and snow-storm.
Steep rose the ridge, ghostly peaks climbed the sky,
Fang sped through the jungles of ice.
Hard on his tale, One-eye drew from the pack
An old hero conquered by none.
Steep, for too steep grew the pathway ahead
Descent was the only escape
A wolf never flees in the face of his foe
Fang knew the price he would pay
One-eye stood before him
With the crown upon his head
Sceptre raised to deal the deadly blow.
Fang, son of great Fang, the Traitor we seek,
The laws of the Brethren say this
That only the King sees the Crown of the Gods
And he, the Usurper must die
Snarling he tore at the throat of his foe
But Fang fought the hero in vain
Dawn saw the white mountain tinted with red
Never would the crown leave again
One-eye hid the crown and with laurels on his head
Returned amongst the tribe and dwelt in peace.
Lyrics submitted by Demau Senae, edited by Undinal
White Mountain Lyrics as written by Peter Gabriel Anthony Banks
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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You don't really get to know if Fang and One-Eye are wolves or indians of a tribe who have totemic names after wolves ;the drift of sense is an intended one I think. Menacing and beautiful, and the use of reeds (or is it mellotron?) and deep-sounding drums in the middle bit is very effective.
Incredibly interesting perspective (the Native American interpretation)!