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.
Hallowed be the fatherland
God he knows
How long I'd been away
From here I did start for a search so
Full of decease
I still hear my cryouts
From the old cellar's inside
Born in the days of medieval
My inner voice
Is always asking why
I came from nowhere
Without a task, without a name
No fear of evil
Fate, so god please lead me through
Forgotten realms
Mysterious dreams
In sunless rooms I'd sworn
I'll finish what I started, once
I'll find my holy grail
In the holy land
Returning of the miracles
It's my own requiem
The jester's tears
They are inside me
Agony's the script for my requiem
Returning of the miracles
It's my own requiem
Is the script already written
Jester's tears I cry
Yes, I cry
I went out of my mind
In desert lands
Insanity's pawn
Out of control
Much too long I've been isolated
From my thoughts
Enclosed by the leader's spell
Bewildered to marc
As a glory knight
And I tried
Still I hear the scream of thousands:
"Crucify, crucify
Take it all
Our gold, our home, our life,
But we didn't kill your Christ!!
Reach out for your holy grail
Enslave us and make us
Your god's sacrifice!!"
Returning of the miracles
It's my own requiem
The jester's tears
They are inside me
Agony's the script for my requiem
Returning of the miracles
It's my own requiem
Is the script already written
Jester's tears I cry
Yes, I cry
Still I'm confused
If I was dreaming
Too late I realized
I'd been another fool
I pay the price
Returning of the miracles
It's my own requiem
The jester's tears
They are inside me
Agony's the script for my requiem
Returning of the miracles
It's my own requiem
Is the script already written
Jester's tears I cry
God he knows
How long I'd been away
From here I did start for a search so
Full of decease
I still hear my cryouts
From the old cellar's inside
Born in the days of medieval
My inner voice
Is always asking why
I came from nowhere
Without a task, without a name
No fear of evil
Fate, so god please lead me through
Forgotten realms
Mysterious dreams
In sunless rooms I'd sworn
I'll finish what I started, once
I'll find my holy grail
In the holy land
Returning of the miracles
It's my own requiem
The jester's tears
They are inside me
Agony's the script for my requiem
Returning of the miracles
It's my own requiem
Is the script already written
Jester's tears I cry
Yes, I cry
I went out of my mind
In desert lands
Insanity's pawn
Out of control
Much too long I've been isolated
From my thoughts
Enclosed by the leader's spell
Bewildered to marc
As a glory knight
And I tried
Still I hear the scream of thousands:
"Crucify, crucify
Take it all
Our gold, our home, our life,
But we didn't kill your Christ!!
Reach out for your holy grail
Enslave us and make us
Your god's sacrifice!!"
Returning of the miracles
It's my own requiem
The jester's tears
They are inside me
Agony's the script for my requiem
Returning of the miracles
It's my own requiem
Is the script already written
Jester's tears I cry
Yes, I cry
Still I'm confused
If I was dreaming
Too late I realized
I'd been another fool
I pay the price
Returning of the miracles
It's my own requiem
The jester's tears
They are inside me
Agony's the script for my requiem
Returning of the miracles
It's my own requiem
Is the script already written
Jester's tears I cry
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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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.
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
No Surprises
Radiohead
Radiohead
Same ideas expressed in Fitter, Happier are expressed in this song. We're told to strive for some sort of ideal life, which includes getting a good job, being kind to everyone, finding a partner, getting married, having a couple kids, living in a quiet neighborhood in a nice big house, etc. But in Fitter, Happier the narrator(?) realizes that it's incredibly robotic to live this life. People are being used by those in power "like a pig in a cage on antibiotics"--being pacified with things like new phones and cool gadgets and houses while being sucked dry. On No Surprises, the narrator is realizing how this life is killing him slowly. In the video, his helmet is slowly filling up with water, drowning him. But he's so complacent with it. This is a good summary of the song. This boring, "perfect" life foisted upon us by some higher powers (not spiritual, but political, economic, etc. politicians and businessmen, perhaps) is not the way to live. But there is seemingly no way out but death. He'd rather die peacefully right now than live in this cage. While our lives are often shielded, we're in our own protective bubbles, or protective helmets like the one Thom wears, if we look a little harder we can see all the corruption, lies, manipulation, etc. that is going on in the world, often run by huge yet nearly invisible organizations, corporations, and 'leaders'. It's a very hopeless song because it reflects real life.
I saw in an interview this song is about a crusader getting home, and recognizing his mistakes. He simply lives the nightmares of war day by day and constantly hears the moans and wails of victims announcing their innocence. One reason for the crusades has been the purpose of clerical people to release the occupied city of Jerusalem from so called heathens and the murders of Christ. That is where these words relate to. So they have nothing to do with Adolf Hitler...