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.
Call for the priest, I'm dying
Well the pressure's too much
You know I peaked last night
I gotta get some a quick release
City is standing on my shoulders
My body's going piece by piece
Yeah
Well, I know what I want
And I know where to get it
And I'm going there right away
This is one priest
That I don't have to fall on
Down to my knees and pray
No
When your back's to the wall
Come along one and all
We shall fight for the slander that's penned
It's us we shall choose, let the bigoted loose
For our triumph's the means to their end
With you by my side
I shall ride every storm
Let the cynics drop dead in their critical head
They're wrist merchants as you all can see
Bunch of deaf ears with their columnized fears
Such a shame, what a shame, oh dear me
When your back's to the wall
Come along one and all
We shall fight all the slander that's penned
It's us we shall choose, let the bigoted loose
For our triumph's the means to their end
Yes, I know what I want
And I know where to get it
And I'm going there right away
This is one priest
That I don't have to fall
Down to my knees and pray
No
Well the pressure's too much
You know I peaked last night
I gotta get some a quick release
City is standing on my shoulders
My body's going piece by piece
Yeah
Well, I know what I want
And I know where to get it
And I'm going there right away
This is one priest
That I don't have to fall on
Down to my knees and pray
No
When your back's to the wall
Come along one and all
We shall fight for the slander that's penned
It's us we shall choose, let the bigoted loose
For our triumph's the means to their end
With you by my side
I shall ride every storm
Let the cynics drop dead in their critical head
They're wrist merchants as you all can see
Bunch of deaf ears with their columnized fears
Such a shame, what a shame, oh dear me
When your back's to the wall
Come along one and all
We shall fight all the slander that's penned
It's us we shall choose, let the bigoted loose
For our triumph's the means to their end
Yes, I know what I want
And I know where to get it
And I'm going there right away
This is one priest
That I don't have to fall
Down to my knees and pray
No
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what the hell is up with this song and Call For The Priest/raw Deal!? They're both amazing songs, but to me it sounds like the version of Sin After Sin has a corrupted track listing or something. Anyone know anything about it? It seems like "Call For The Priest/Raw Deal" should have this lyric attached to it, but it's the other way around...YtseJam, do you know what the deal is?
*the version of Sin After Sin that I have
It's supposed to be listed as Let Us Prey/Call For The Priest and Raw Deal is just supposed to be Raw Deal.
Also, I have encountered a few times where the intro to Here Come the Tears is actually a piece at the end of Raw Deal instead of being part of the actual song.