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.
(Chorus)
Well I dreamed this night a thousand times
But I never knew that I'd be burning inside
In the moment when we decide
If the innocent live and the guilty die
Unforgiven, unrestrained
And we're burning on down like an acid rain
Raise the darkness and expose their lies
Night riders in the western skies
(/Chorus)
I can't believe it's true but
Devotion's on the rise and they're looking for you
Burning bright like a thousand suns and
We'll never stop until we're sure we've won
And there's revelution in the air tonight
And I don't need nothing 'cause I know that I'm right
Raise the darkness and expose their lies
Night riders in the western skies
This scenario
In the wreck of souls, well so who have you told
Call it chance or call it fate
Just remember that it's never too late
Restrict somatic delusion
Destroy prosodic illusion
Uphold evoke and desire
Absorb the voice of the fire
Can't hope to combat the motion
Can't stop the feedback devotion
Can't stop it, tried but it continues
Transcend it or be consumed
And in the wreck of failed diplomacy
Challenge order well I'll follow your lead
Just a few more steps and then you're free
But you'll never know 'cause they don't want you to see
On target and we're flying blind
And I'm scared to look because I know what I'll find
Never knew that it would end this way
Watching paradise go down in flames but
I won't give up, I won't give way
In the moment of truth I won't surrender my name
Because there's no more limits and no more fear
Because I know that the end is near
(Chorus)
Well I dreamed this night a thousand times
But I never knew that I'd be burning inside
In the moment when we decide
If the innocent live and the guilty die
Unforgiven, unrestrained
And we're burning on down like an acid rain
Raise the darkness and expose their lies
Night riders in the western skies
(/Chorus)
Locked on target and we're flying blind
And I'm scared to look because I know what I'll find
Never knew that it would end this way
Watching paradise go down in flames but
I won't give up, no I won't give way
In the moment of truth I won't surrender my name
Because there's no more limits and no more fear
Because I know that the end is near
I can't believe it's true but
Devotion's on the rise and they're looking for you
Burning bright like a thousand suns and
We'll never stop until we're sure we've won
And there's revelution in the air tonight
And I don't need nothing 'cause I know that I'm right
Raise the darkness and expose their lies
Night riders in the western skies
Well I dreamed this night a thousand times
But I never knew that I'd be burning inside
In the moment when we decide
If the innocent live and the guilty die
Unforgiven, unrestrained
And we're burning on down like an acid rain
Raise the darkness and expose their lies
Night riders in the western skies
(/Chorus)
I can't believe it's true but
Devotion's on the rise and they're looking for you
Burning bright like a thousand suns and
We'll never stop until we're sure we've won
And there's revelution in the air tonight
And I don't need nothing 'cause I know that I'm right
Raise the darkness and expose their lies
Night riders in the western skies
This scenario
In the wreck of souls, well so who have you told
Call it chance or call it fate
Just remember that it's never too late
Restrict somatic delusion
Destroy prosodic illusion
Uphold evoke and desire
Absorb the voice of the fire
Can't hope to combat the motion
Can't stop the feedback devotion
Can't stop it, tried but it continues
Transcend it or be consumed
And in the wreck of failed diplomacy
Challenge order well I'll follow your lead
Just a few more steps and then you're free
But you'll never know 'cause they don't want you to see
On target and we're flying blind
And I'm scared to look because I know what I'll find
Never knew that it would end this way
Watching paradise go down in flames but
I won't give up, I won't give way
In the moment of truth I won't surrender my name
Because there's no more limits and no more fear
Because I know that the end is near
(Chorus)
Well I dreamed this night a thousand times
But I never knew that I'd be burning inside
In the moment when we decide
If the innocent live and the guilty die
Unforgiven, unrestrained
And we're burning on down like an acid rain
Raise the darkness and expose their lies
Night riders in the western skies
(/Chorus)
Locked on target and we're flying blind
And I'm scared to look because I know what I'll find
Never knew that it would end this way
Watching paradise go down in flames but
I won't give up, no I won't give way
In the moment of truth I won't surrender my name
Because there's no more limits and no more fear
Because I know that the end is near
I can't believe it's true but
Devotion's on the rise and they're looking for you
Burning bright like a thousand suns and
We'll never stop until we're sure we've won
And there's revelution in the air tonight
And I don't need nothing 'cause I know that I'm right
Raise the darkness and expose their lies
Night riders in the western skies
Lyrics submitted by deviationer
Night Riders Lyrics as written by Phil O'donnell Ben Merritt Stennis
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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Great version of a great song,
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While no one can truly say what this song means save for Stromkern, I will tell you what I take from it personally.
This song is not about a specific time period or peoples, but about the constant struggle between good and evil. These two words are both clearly defined, and yet, their definitions change from person to person. They are subjective, always meaning opposites, but changing based on the user.
I feel that this song is simply about the struggle that everyone goes through at some point between their good and evil, they decide what they find righteous and what they find condemnable. Some simply have a goal and will do anything to achieve it, or "Locked on target and we're flying blind". Some have a set of agendas and a set of morals to boot, "Raise the darkness and expose their lies".
then there are those who don't have a clue what they believe, and so they follow the first thing they feel they can remotely agree with, "Challenge order well I'll follow your lead".
then there are the people, who, no matter what path they follow, they find themselves to be wrong, or they find themselves "Watching paradise go down in flames".
there are some who are strong enough to stay faithful to their "good" and condemn their "evil", but there are those who are confused about their good and evil, and can't decide which is which, or the people who simply don't care.
Simply put, I believe this song to be about the struggle all of humanity goes through, and we all come with different answers, ideals, morals, and goals, but we all fight to find our own good.