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.
I have an evil plan
To save the world for every man,
And I think it's better than
The way it's being run.
Oh, the ground works laid,
No don't be afraid,
I'm sure that I can fix it,
When I figure out the physics.
My evil plan to save the world,
just you wait 'till it's unfurled,
it'll go down in history.
It's prophetic,
no it's not pathetic.
I can't believe I made it up myself.
I have an evil plan,
To save the world you understand,
The exemplary feat,
You'd think I'd have to cheat.
I'd make Voltaire proud,
Deep and furrow browed.
Uncanny and so clever,
it's 'Our Newest Plan Ever!'
Got tired of whining,
A grander scheme with silver lining,
For every boy and girl.
We can't be responsible,
For all that's wrong with this world.
Starving children in pain,
You can't believe in that God.
The world's not spinning your way,
Does every dog still get his day?
To save the world for every man,
And I think it's better than
The way it's being run.
Oh, the ground works laid,
No don't be afraid,
I'm sure that I can fix it,
When I figure out the physics.
My evil plan to save the world,
just you wait 'till it's unfurled,
it'll go down in history.
It's prophetic,
no it's not pathetic.
I can't believe I made it up myself.
I have an evil plan,
To save the world you understand,
The exemplary feat,
You'd think I'd have to cheat.
I'd make Voltaire proud,
Deep and furrow browed.
Uncanny and so clever,
it's 'Our Newest Plan Ever!'
Got tired of whining,
A grander scheme with silver lining,
For every boy and girl.
We can't be responsible,
For all that's wrong with this world.
Starving children in pain,
You can't believe in that God.
The world's not spinning your way,
Does every dog still get his day?
Lyrics submitted by ThreeMilesDown, edited by zehnra
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
Fast Car
Tracy Chapman
Tracy Chapman
"Fast car" is kind of a continuation of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run." It has all the clawing your way to a better life, but in this case the protagonist never makes it with her love; in fact she is dragged back down by him.
There is still an amazing amount of hope and will in the lyrics; and the lyrics themselve rank and easy five. If only music was stronger it would be one of those great radio songs that you hear once a week 20 years after it was released. The imagery is almost tear-jerking ("City lights lay out before us", "Speeds so fast felt like I was drunk"), and the idea of starting from nothing and just driving and working and denigrating yourself for a chance at being just above poverty, then losing in the end is just painful and inspiring at the same time.
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
This song seems to be about people who think they know better than God.
The line about "starving children in pain" is a common argument for why God, as Christians think of Him, can not exist. If God was omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent, why would he let children starve?
This song attempts to address that argument by basically mocking the idea that man can have a better solution for how the world should work, rather than the way God has created it.
I discovered this band by accident after looking for a copy of the Canadian National Anthem. I downloaded Oh, Canada, loved it, and downloaded this song. My Evil Plan To Save the World has fast become my new favorite song.
Definitely a good song...FIF is awesome. Although I did think the last line was does every dog still have his day... but that's cool. :)
~Toby*
what a great song!!!! it's one of my favorites by FIF!!!
Yep the horns are great on this one too.....when i first heard it, was kinda cofusing.
this song rocks...it's about him wanting to make change with whats wrong in the world...FIF rocks it's sad that they're disbanding
This song is amazing. I played it over and over again for like an hour every day when i first got this CD. It truely is awesome.
I love this song, it is hillarious! There horn section kicks mega ass!
i love his voice..and the horns are so catchy, i like how they threw in what sounded like "mary had a little lamb" in the solo thing at 2:10ish
Wow, I think that last one is a great interpretation! This is the very first song I ever heard by them back in 03 and I was so confused by that line. I think they needed to unfold the concept a bit more. But it's so great anyway.
I found a couple of verses in the Bible that address this particular question posed in the song: Jeremiah 12:1-4. Jeremiah asks on the firsts why is the world being unfair. Yet I would speak with you about your justice (The world's not spinning your way), Set them apart for the day of slaughter (does every dog still have his day?). It would explain why is it "prophetic", perhaps a hint of where it's coming from.<br /> <br /> God answers from the start the fact: Don't go over your head with this (If you have raced with men on foot and they have worn you out, how can you compete with horses?). However, it seems like FIF just tries to portray every single Christian who comes to ask himself why the world doesn't go the way it's supposed to, or so he thinks. Awesome stuff.