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.
I don’t understand the way we think
Our minds suffer from a common infection
I don’t understand the things we say
Our voices echo through an empty room
I don’t understand the way we fight
Our missiles poised like a political erection
I don’t understand the things we do
We’ve drawn the blueprints to our tomb
And I don’t understand how we can hate so unreasonably
This racist propaganda and this anger keeps us behind the wall
And I can’t comprehend the burning greed within the eyes of men
We see the price of everything and the value of nothing at all
There’s blood on these hands of mine…I’m a casualty
I’ll hang my head as ashes fall from the sky
There’s bloodstains on the hands of time…I’m a casualty
A casualty of suicide and we never ask why
We never ask ourselves why
A casualty of suicide
Blood’s running down the face of the human race
All I can taste is bitter disgrace
As we’re laid to waste with such careless haste
Your mind is erased as you sit and wait to die
Our minds suffer from a common infection
I don’t understand the things we say
Our voices echo through an empty room
I don’t understand the way we fight
Our missiles poised like a political erection
I don’t understand the things we do
We’ve drawn the blueprints to our tomb
And I don’t understand how we can hate so unreasonably
This racist propaganda and this anger keeps us behind the wall
And I can’t comprehend the burning greed within the eyes of men
We see the price of everything and the value of nothing at all
There’s blood on these hands of mine…I’m a casualty
I’ll hang my head as ashes fall from the sky
There’s bloodstains on the hands of time…I’m a casualty
A casualty of suicide and we never ask why
We never ask ourselves why
A casualty of suicide
Blood’s running down the face of the human race
All I can taste is bitter disgrace
As we’re laid to waste with such careless haste
Your mind is erased as you sit and wait to die
Lyrics submitted by Nicki_Hicki
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