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.
They're out to kill the working class
That means you and me
Maggie knows she can go and stuff
Her non working politics
False hopes, job creations
False hopes, job creations
False hopes, job creations
Affecting you and me
False hopes like job creations
Are there to keep you down
Straws in the wind for the working man
Create nowt but misery
False hopes, job creations
False hopes, job creations
False hopes, job creations
Affecting you and me
Columns of the living dead
No voices to hear their plight
Stumble on aimlessly every day
To a perpetual night
False hopes, job creations
False hopes, job creations
False hopes, job creations
Affecting you and me
The working man is dying
Now robots take his place
And soon it will be your turn
To be redundant from the human race
That means you and me
Maggie knows she can go and stuff
Her non working politics
False hopes, job creations
False hopes, job creations
False hopes, job creations
Affecting you and me
False hopes like job creations
Are there to keep you down
Straws in the wind for the working man
Create nowt but misery
False hopes, job creations
False hopes, job creations
False hopes, job creations
Affecting you and me
Columns of the living dead
No voices to hear their plight
Stumble on aimlessly every day
To a perpetual night
False hopes, job creations
False hopes, job creations
False hopes, job creations
Affecting you and me
The working man is dying
Now robots take his place
And soon it will be your turn
To be redundant from the human race
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.
American Town
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.