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.
Have you ever seen the sun
(Have you ever seen the sun, have you ever seen the sun)
Rising high to the sound of a gun?
Blue and white and yellow sun
(Blue and white and yellow sun, blue and white and yellow sun)
Capturing imagination
We went down to the piccolo drum
Never made it into the hum
Down to the piccolo
Down to the piccolo
Down to the piccolo snare
Have you ever seen the sea
(Have you ever seen the sea)
Painted red by a bleeding army?
Sky hawks gather for a feast
(Sky hawks gather for a feast)
Of pawns who will never find peace
Tumbledown to the piccolo snare
Never made it into the square
Down to the piccolo
Down to the piccolo
No one particular cared
Dreaming, dreaming, dreaming, dreaming
Now! We can go home again
To our old haunts again
Together
Now scatter us all around
Far from the bugle sound
Surrender
Safe in the exclusion zone
Catch me and take me home
As brother fights brother
Wrapped up in tarnished flags
Banners and body bags
Surrender!
(Surrender!)
Dreaming, dreaming, dreaming, dreaming
Dreaming, dreaming, dreaming, dreaming
Dreaming, dreaming, dreaming, dreaming
(Have you ever seen the sun, have you ever seen the sun)
Rising high to the sound of a gun?
Blue and white and yellow sun
(Blue and white and yellow sun, blue and white and yellow sun)
Capturing imagination
We went down to the piccolo drum
Never made it into the hum
Down to the piccolo
Down to the piccolo
Down to the piccolo snare
Have you ever seen the sea
(Have you ever seen the sea)
Painted red by a bleeding army?
Sky hawks gather for a feast
(Sky hawks gather for a feast)
Of pawns who will never find peace
Tumbledown to the piccolo snare
Never made it into the square
Down to the piccolo
Down to the piccolo
No one particular cared
Dreaming, dreaming, dreaming, dreaming
Now! We can go home again
To our old haunts again
Together
Now scatter us all around
Far from the bugle sound
Surrender
Safe in the exclusion zone
Catch me and take me home
As brother fights brother
Wrapped up in tarnished flags
Banners and body bags
Surrender!
(Surrender!)
Dreaming, dreaming, dreaming, dreaming
Dreaming, dreaming, dreaming, dreaming
Dreaming, dreaming, dreaming, dreaming
Lyrics submitted by Metatronis
The Piccolo Snare Lyrics as written by Dafydd Ieuan Cian Ciaran
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Great version of a great song,
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This one is clearly an anti-war song. So is "Liberty Belle" on that same album. I'm guessing the band was upset with the invasion of Iraq.