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.
Why can I not sleep?
Why am I turning?
Why are all the trees burning?
Forest fires, crooked liars,
Why am I so sullen and drained?
In the bush, it's raining,
Lost man on his own,
Has anyone thought to save him?
The monkey is waiting in the tree
Counts to three
Hearing the sound of the fume-fuelled wagon
He leaps on the back...
Attack! Attack! Attack!
No old heathen, not today.
The rain falls upon the acidic trees of the millennium scorn
The fire has vanished, leaving behind a trail of death for all to see.
The birds & the trees, then you & me
Lay twitching on the forest floor.
The yeti is waiting for us to take us into his home,
Care for us just like one of his own.
Wild bones!
Wild bones!
Wait! The yeti no longer has a home
The trees are gone & nothing has grown.
A table, a chair, an internet nightmare,
When will the forest speak?
When all is dried up and way too weak?
Wait for nightfall, it's so beautiful out here.
Up high in a wave of oxygen love I sit,
Up high on this glorified cement postcard I spit.
I spit, I spit upon thee.
Wait for your red skies,
Wait for the red skies,
Do you know how it feels to be alive?
Let me know, let me know how you feel...
When will the forest speak?
When the trees are dried up and way too weak?
Wasting a life on calculations,
Not enough money for operations,
Waste of life, statistics, plastic soldiers
Sound of sticks rubbing together.
All the people gather.
Wait for the man, he must have a plan,
Show me and make me a smile I can wear.
Me & you we can make up too,
No use for hate if you're wearing my shoes.
Be happy, be sad, be a wild rotten lamb,
Don't bother me now, I'm drenched to the bone.
A sound of a truck and an axe and a fall
Of a tree and a life and a planet so small
Sick to the bone of your dour heart of stone.
Let me know how you feel...
You say it's too hot so you can take off your top
A clank of a slot machine, coins bled unclean.
A beaten old lizard staggers over the road,
A hand and a heart, the lake in the park,
The candle won't light and the fire won't spark.
I'm worn and I'm torn but I still carry on.
The money is angry, the money has taken the...
Watching mayhem leaping from truck to truck,
This is where he rejoins his friends.
They feast, they drink, they talk about
How things used to be...
I still can't sleep.
I still can't sleep.
I still can't sleep.
A million minds and a million voices
A million thoughts, and only one choice.
The need to find peace.
Why am I turning?
Why are all the trees burning?
Forest fires, crooked liars,
Why am I so sullen and drained?
In the bush, it's raining,
Lost man on his own,
Has anyone thought to save him?
The monkey is waiting in the tree
Counts to three
Hearing the sound of the fume-fuelled wagon
He leaps on the back...
Attack! Attack! Attack!
No old heathen, not today.
The rain falls upon the acidic trees of the millennium scorn
The fire has vanished, leaving behind a trail of death for all to see.
The birds & the trees, then you & me
Lay twitching on the forest floor.
The yeti is waiting for us to take us into his home,
Care for us just like one of his own.
Wild bones!
Wild bones!
Wait! The yeti no longer has a home
The trees are gone & nothing has grown.
A table, a chair, an internet nightmare,
When will the forest speak?
When all is dried up and way too weak?
Wait for nightfall, it's so beautiful out here.
Up high in a wave of oxygen love I sit,
Up high on this glorified cement postcard I spit.
I spit, I spit upon thee.
Wait for your red skies,
Wait for the red skies,
Do you know how it feels to be alive?
Let me know, let me know how you feel...
When will the forest speak?
When the trees are dried up and way too weak?
Wasting a life on calculations,
Not enough money for operations,
Waste of life, statistics, plastic soldiers
Sound of sticks rubbing together.
All the people gather.
Wait for the man, he must have a plan,
Show me and make me a smile I can wear.
Me & you we can make up too,
No use for hate if you're wearing my shoes.
Be happy, be sad, be a wild rotten lamb,
Don't bother me now, I'm drenched to the bone.
A sound of a truck and an axe and a fall
Of a tree and a life and a planet so small
Sick to the bone of your dour heart of stone.
Let me know how you feel...
You say it's too hot so you can take off your top
A clank of a slot machine, coins bled unclean.
A beaten old lizard staggers over the road,
A hand and a heart, the lake in the park,
The candle won't light and the fire won't spark.
I'm worn and I'm torn but I still carry on.
The money is angry, the money has taken the...
Watching mayhem leaping from truck to truck,
This is where he rejoins his friends.
They feast, they drink, they talk about
How things used to be...
I still can't sleep.
I still can't sleep.
I still can't sleep.
A million minds and a million voices
A million thoughts, and only one choice.
The need to find peace.
Lyrics submitted by donniedarko28
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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hehe, me and my friend brad always used to annoy the hell outta everyone oin our common room by putting this on repeat all the time, cause they were all either chavs, or they were scared and freaked out by it.
good times :D
a spoken-word poem that Mikee wrote. deep stuff.
amazing poem, the voices scared me the first time i heard it though
I prefer the new poem 'Mermaid Slur' on the new album, but Mikee certainly knows how to write beautifully.
Such a creepy but excellent song.
wow as if know one can figure out this song! well its about people or us and how where destroying our land and nature. title when will the forest speak = when are we going to take a stand and notice what are we doing to this planet. after you know you should imagine what hes talking about in the rest of the song, but if not let me know ill gladly explain! sikth for life
This needs no explanation, really. As for me - I'm totally amazed at how much thought can be put in music. Sikth are really one of a kind, I've never heard anything even remotely like them. And this poem, this play is just a poetic masterpiece.
"Up high in a wave of oxygen love I sit, Up high on this glorified cement postcard I spit."
And only look at how much hate these guys have for the urban life!
Tis a bout the environment and earth and shizz. So is 'The Mermaid's Slur' i think :) And maybe some of their other songs ;)
i think it can mean tow things branching (like trees) from similar problems.
The first is that the urban world is taking over and the wild is being consumed by industry.
The second is the forest is describing human unity and fellowship. Mikee is saying when will the people unite together. This makes more sense if you understand Mikee sees human relationships as trees. "Why are all the trees burning" has a double meaning, once u understand this concept, the rest of the poem can be worked out.
it is quite wonderful poetry, we should do it in schools.
one word: Metal