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.
Know this ones dedicated to the police dem you know Liar
Cause some of them is wicked and them good for nothing
And dem love pick upon people
And dem think der no right
And I man come to show you dat
Alright alright alright alright
So we kick it up because you
So we kick it up because you
So we kick it up because you
So we kick it up because you know we good to go
One for the money and three for the show
Warning for you and here's a warning for me
No bodder test the beast it coulder end up nasty
Stop you on the street without a reason
Search through your pockets under suspicion
Everybody in ya is a prime suspect
Gone are the days where they serve and protect
Learn babylon learn babylon learn
Play with fire you must get burn
[Repeat]
Danger you know that the fire is burning, seen
Danger you know that the fire is burning, gworn
[Repeat]
Babylon hear this
From I was a yoot police ah give me a hard time
They said I looking like a crook and you're destined for crime
Positive police me never met much of dem
An the one's down pill cause most the problems
Driving up and down dem ah check an dem ah stare
Look out natty dread locks you best beware
Why can't they be like the ones on the bill
Who never ever curse or they never ever kill
[Chorus]
[middle 8]
Danger Selector Enter
Danger you know that the fire is burning
Danger you know that the fire is burning
Gworn danger gworn danger
Babylon
Whoop whoop das the sound of the police
Whoop whoop das the sound of the beast
Learn babylon learn babylon la la la
Learn babylon learn babylon la la la
Learn babylon learn babylon la la la
Learn babylon learn babylon la la la
Learn
Cause some of them is wicked and them good for nothing
And dem love pick upon people
And dem think der no right
And I man come to show you dat
Alright alright alright alright
So we kick it up because you
So we kick it up because you
So we kick it up because you
So we kick it up because you know we good to go
One for the money and three for the show
Warning for you and here's a warning for me
No bodder test the beast it coulder end up nasty
Stop you on the street without a reason
Search through your pockets under suspicion
Everybody in ya is a prime suspect
Gone are the days where they serve and protect
Learn babylon learn babylon learn
Play with fire you must get burn
[Repeat]
Danger you know that the fire is burning, seen
Danger you know that the fire is burning, gworn
[Repeat]
Babylon hear this
From I was a yoot police ah give me a hard time
They said I looking like a crook and you're destined for crime
Positive police me never met much of dem
An the one's down pill cause most the problems
Driving up and down dem ah check an dem ah stare
Look out natty dread locks you best beware
Why can't they be like the ones on the bill
Who never ever curse or they never ever kill
[Chorus]
[middle 8]
Danger Selector Enter
Danger you know that the fire is burning
Danger you know that the fire is burning
Gworn danger gworn danger
Babylon
Whoop whoop das the sound of the police
Whoop whoop das the sound of the beast
Learn babylon learn babylon la la la
Learn babylon learn babylon la la la
Learn babylon learn babylon la la la
Learn babylon learn babylon la la la
Learn
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
I Can't Go To Sleep
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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Ed Sheeran shares a short story of reconnecting with an old flame on “American Town.” The track is about a holiday Ed Sheeran spends with his countrywoman who resides in America. The two are back together after a long period apart, and get around to enjoying a bunch of fun activities while rekindling the flames of their romance.
gonna have to disagree with morpheusvw, it's about the Tribulation. The Anti-Christ will make Babylon his capital and it will eventually be destroyed by God