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.
Take a bow, pack on powder
Wash them out with buzzing lights
Pay an audience to care
"Impress me" personality
Still and transfixed
The electric sheep are dreaming of your face
Enjoy you from the chemical
Comfort of America
Come one, come all
Into 1984
Yeah, three, two, one
Lights, camera, transaction
But quick, your time is almost up
Make all forget that they're the moth
Edging in towards the flame
Burn into obscurity
Still and transfixed
The electric sheep are dreaming up your fate
And judge you from the card castle
Comfort of America
Come one, come all
Into 1984
Yeah, three, two, one
Lights, camera, yeah
Come one, come all
Into 1984
Yeah, three, two, one
Lights, camera, transaction
Lights, camera, transaction
Come one, come all
Into 1984
Yeah, three, two, one
Lights, camera, transaction
Your foundation is canyoning
Fault lines should be worn with pride
I hate to say so much more
You're so much more
Endearing with the sound turned off
Wash them out with buzzing lights
Pay an audience to care
"Impress me" personality
Still and transfixed
The electric sheep are dreaming of your face
Enjoy you from the chemical
Comfort of America
Come one, come all
Into 1984
Yeah, three, two, one
Lights, camera, transaction
But quick, your time is almost up
Make all forget that they're the moth
Edging in towards the flame
Burn into obscurity
Still and transfixed
The electric sheep are dreaming up your fate
And judge you from the card castle
Comfort of America
Come one, come all
Into 1984
Yeah, three, two, one
Lights, camera, yeah
Come one, come all
Into 1984
Yeah, three, two, one
Lights, camera, transaction
Lights, camera, transaction
Come one, come all
Into 1984
Yeah, three, two, one
Lights, camera, transaction
Your foundation is canyoning
Fault lines should be worn with pride
I hate to say so much more
You're so much more
Endearing with the sound turned off
Lyrics submitted by SoccrFwd13, edited by danielhex
Talk Shows on Mute Lyrics as written by Brandon Boyd Ben Kenney
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
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.
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
The part about dreaming of electric sheep i believe is a reference to Philip K Dick's brilliant sci-fi novel titled "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?" The movie Blade Runner is an adaptation of the book. . . put briefly, the story is about a man who is a "blade runner" and is set out to destroy human clones known as "replicants. . .highly recommended