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.
Flittermice of Eld Unveiled at the plenilune
Fordone by Mournful rest now seeking to be fed again
Rising terrestrial power umbraged by celestial light
That Shineth Forth from the palace of god - the palace of no return
Flittermice of Eld they peer into the morrows,
They peer the yesteryears as thoose are coming back.
Beholding the son recrucified, beholding gods race browbeaten,
Beholding the Devastation of all morals built by them.
Flittermice of Eld they fly to blaspheme yehova
And to build their Temple (of the) Damned on once holy pleasure ground
A Fare to Raise the Flag (of Satan), to desseminate the races,
To build the Hall of Battle and to live in Eternal Strife
Flittermice came forth from the land beyond the forest
Multifarious Winged Black Creatures slew the angels (up so) high.
Devastation, Blasphemy, Desecration, Unholy He
Who Burned the face of god with the Eye of Our Master
Fordone by Mournful rest now seeking to be fed again
Rising terrestrial power umbraged by celestial light
That Shineth Forth from the palace of god - the palace of no return
Flittermice of Eld they peer into the morrows,
They peer the yesteryears as thoose are coming back.
Beholding the son recrucified, beholding gods race browbeaten,
Beholding the Devastation of all morals built by them.
Flittermice of Eld they fly to blaspheme yehova
And to build their Temple (of the) Damned on once holy pleasure ground
A Fare to Raise the Flag (of Satan), to desseminate the races,
To build the Hall of Battle and to live in Eternal Strife
Flittermice came forth from the land beyond the forest
Multifarious Winged Black Creatures slew the angels (up so) high.
Devastation, Blasphemy, Desecration, Unholy He
Who Burned the face of god with the Eye of Our Master
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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There was a bit of a furore over the "to desseminate the races" lyric, I remember.
just to check... desseminate is "to spread"