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.
Well in the steam of the man hole cities slum
Like a ghost it takes form in the sludge and the scum
Well jose knew him but not for very long
You know the mexican kid well we all called him john
He was cut down quickly his legs wouldn't run
You see it all came down to big danny's gun
He was a devil to most but an angel to some
He ruled his block with a gangload of men
'Cause I'm a generation terrorist
And when I shoot, you know I never miss
And this is my life, my way I can't resist
I'll scrap you out if you're on my list
'Cause I'm a generation terrorist
And when I shoot, you know I never miss
And this is my life, my way I can't resist
I'll scrap you out if you're on my list
Swastika tattooed on his head
At the age of 24 he ate a bullet in bed
Well big danny cleaned up the mess that he left
As he explained it to me
Well he wept and he wept
He said ' it dont make no fuckin' sense!'
He told me ' little lars' keep it under your breath
Revenge was coming from the tip of his tongue
I guess it was served when jose didnt run
Coz im a
'Cause I'm a generation terrorist
And when I shoot, you know I never miss
And this is my life, my way I can't resist
I'll scrap you out if you're on my list
'Cause I'm a generation terrorist
And when I shoot, you know I never miss
And this is my life, my way I can't resist
I'll scrap you out if you're on my list
'Cause I'm a generation terrorist
And when I shoot, you know I never miss
And this is my life, my way I can't resist
I'll scrap you out if you're on my list
'Cause I'm a generation terrorist
And when I shoot, you know I never miss
And this is my life, my way I can't resist
I'll scrap you out if you're on my list
Well I was 11 years old
There was a knock at my door
There was some trouble in my manor
Its outta control
Well big dannys handcuffed hes on the floor
Yeh he told me to run and he told me to bolt
As my mother cried you know my father lied
Well big danny was there he was at my side
He taught me how to love he taught me how to be free
Yeh free
Like a ghost it takes form in the sludge and the scum
Well jose knew him but not for very long
You know the mexican kid well we all called him john
He was cut down quickly his legs wouldn't run
You see it all came down to big danny's gun
He was a devil to most but an angel to some
He ruled his block with a gangload of men
'Cause I'm a generation terrorist
And when I shoot, you know I never miss
And this is my life, my way I can't resist
I'll scrap you out if you're on my list
'Cause I'm a generation terrorist
And when I shoot, you know I never miss
And this is my life, my way I can't resist
I'll scrap you out if you're on my list
Swastika tattooed on his head
At the age of 24 he ate a bullet in bed
Well big danny cleaned up the mess that he left
As he explained it to me
Well he wept and he wept
He said ' it dont make no fuckin' sense!'
He told me ' little lars' keep it under your breath
Revenge was coming from the tip of his tongue
I guess it was served when jose didnt run
Coz im a
'Cause I'm a generation terrorist
And when I shoot, you know I never miss
And this is my life, my way I can't resist
I'll scrap you out if you're on my list
'Cause I'm a generation terrorist
And when I shoot, you know I never miss
And this is my life, my way I can't resist
I'll scrap you out if you're on my list
'Cause I'm a generation terrorist
And when I shoot, you know I never miss
And this is my life, my way I can't resist
I'll scrap you out if you're on my list
'Cause I'm a generation terrorist
And when I shoot, you know I never miss
And this is my life, my way I can't resist
I'll scrap you out if you're on my list
Well I was 11 years old
There was a knock at my door
There was some trouble in my manor
Its outta control
Well big dannys handcuffed hes on the floor
Yeh he told me to run and he told me to bolt
As my mother cried you know my father lied
Well big danny was there he was at my side
He taught me how to love he taught me how to be free
Yeh free
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I think it's about the Hells Angels. Examples: -1% refers to the study that found that only one percent of bike gangs or "clubs" give bikers a bad name. -Gangload of men would mean the gang of bikers. -"He was a devil to most but an angel to some"