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.
Hunt for this man!
Comb the city!
Every street! Every grate!
Set a gaurd at every gate!
Drag him out!
Shout the moment that you find him!
spoken: Damn!
Knock in the doors
Lock up the city!
Track him down
Search the down
And be quick about it
Now!
How the devil do I ever prevail when I'm only a man?
But I'll never be duped by that scurrilous phantom again!
I wasn't born to walk on water
I wasn't born to sack and slaughter
But on my soul I wasn't born
To stoop to scorn and knuckle under!
A man can learn to steal some thunder
A man can learn to work some wonder
And when the guantlet's down it's time
To rise and climb the sky
And soon the moon will smolder
And the winds will drive
Yes a man grows older
But his soul remains alive
All those tremoulous stars still glitter
And I will survive!
Let my heart grow colder
And as bitter as a falcon in the dive!
There was a dream-a dying ember
There was a dream-I don't rememeber
But I will resurrect that dream,
Though rivers stream and hills grow steeper
For here in hell, where life gets cheaper
Oh here in hell , the blood runs deeper
And when the final duel is near
I'll lift my spear and fly
Peircing into the sky and higher
And the strong will thrive!
Yes the weak will cower
While the fittest will survive!
If we wait for the darkest hour
Till we spring alive
Then with claws of fire
We devour like a falcon in the dive
These are the days
Yes!
Days of glory!Days of rage!
And the dream-
And the dream of Paris preys on my bones
Gnawing night and day and
Clawing through my brain and-
No!Never kneel!
Never bend!
Rend him to bits!
bite!
Now the beauty of the fight!
I am not a man to hunger for blood , but the spirit can try
To be younger and feircer and fly-
Peircing into the sky and higher!
And the strong will thrive
Yes the weak will cower
While the fittest will survive!
If we wait till the darkest hour
Till we spring alive
Then with claws of fire
We devour
Like a falcon in
The dive!
Comb the city!
Every street! Every grate!
Set a gaurd at every gate!
Drag him out!
Shout the moment that you find him!
spoken: Damn!
Knock in the doors
Lock up the city!
Track him down
Search the down
And be quick about it
Now!
How the devil do I ever prevail when I'm only a man?
But I'll never be duped by that scurrilous phantom again!
I wasn't born to walk on water
I wasn't born to sack and slaughter
But on my soul I wasn't born
To stoop to scorn and knuckle under!
A man can learn to steal some thunder
A man can learn to work some wonder
And when the guantlet's down it's time
To rise and climb the sky
And soon the moon will smolder
And the winds will drive
Yes a man grows older
But his soul remains alive
All those tremoulous stars still glitter
And I will survive!
Let my heart grow colder
And as bitter as a falcon in the dive!
There was a dream-a dying ember
There was a dream-I don't rememeber
But I will resurrect that dream,
Though rivers stream and hills grow steeper
For here in hell, where life gets cheaper
Oh here in hell , the blood runs deeper
And when the final duel is near
I'll lift my spear and fly
Peircing into the sky and higher
And the strong will thrive!
Yes the weak will cower
While the fittest will survive!
If we wait for the darkest hour
Till we spring alive
Then with claws of fire
We devour like a falcon in the dive
These are the days
Yes!
Days of glory!Days of rage!
And the dream-
And the dream of Paris preys on my bones
Gnawing night and day and
Clawing through my brain and-
No!Never kneel!
Never bend!
Rend him to bits!
bite!
Now the beauty of the fight!
I am not a man to hunger for blood , but the spirit can try
To be younger and feircer and fly-
Peircing into the sky and higher!
And the strong will thrive
Yes the weak will cower
While the fittest will survive!
If we wait till the darkest hour
Till we spring alive
Then with claws of fire
We devour
Like a falcon in
The dive!
Lyrics submitted by aMaidensPrayer
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