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.
Glorious light covers him tonight. Him: unaware and silent, six years old and sleeping. The rest of us: dying and waiting for him to grow old. Old enough to save us. Yeah, so save us. Green glorious light covers him tonight. One hundred twenty volts wired straight to his soul, but beyond the hills a shadow is falling through the valley of ashes where death meets destruction. Ya, so lead us. The reign of death will die and we will strike keepin on his perseverance merits preservation. Our enemies sails will hang on broken masts and their tackle will be rendered useless. Sometimes it takes the mind of a child to overcome. If it’s what you’ve found, trust what you see. Ask: is there something wrong with this picture? And take it over.
Lyrics submitted by rjbucs28
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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.
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this is a beautiful song. i think hes trying to say that sometimes you need the naievity and innocense of a child to look at the world and what we are doing to take that natural human response and question whats wrong with society and change it. its the children (society's future) that have the power of questioning authority and government and realize the wrongs and change it...thats just an idea i had, could be tottaly off