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.
Just like another speck of dust that's on the highway of life,
He Screams at anyone who'll listen that the end is in sight,
So then he circles the wagons or he just circles then quits
Cause the Highway could become the final battling pit
So when the company wants, Another problem resolved,
Or if the company wants a choice of nothing at all,
Point your thumb out to the highway through the heat and the dust,
And raise your finger in the middle till you shout:
"What About Us!" [Repeat: x 4]
Just like another last call, it means nothing at all,
You either kiss a lot of ass, or tear the clock off the wall,
Another warning ignored another sign of the times,
They say the sky is gonna fall, so why not drink till your blind
So when the company wants another company-man,
Or when the company wants another 1,000 year plan
You'll let your boot go up the road you cannot possibly trust,
Till the screaming hits the ceiling and you ask:
"What About Us?" [Repeat: x 5]
"What About Us?" x4
Don't follow my path to extinction, if I had a mind I'd leave it alone,
We speak of alliteration, transcendental meditation
Like a journey to the inside of carnal-fiction,
Release yourself where the predator prays, rewind your mind, freeze your world apart!
Wage war on the eye which cannot see,
Destroy the temple of emptiness,
And what about them in the wake of damnation,
And what about us? Do We come from God?"
Just like the old soft shoe or the old song and dance
The only check that's in the mail is probably already cashed
Are you a victim of chance? is this the way to succeed?
Or just a crack in the wall of what the people believe,
So when the company wants the final weapon online,
When the company wants to repossess your mind,
You gotta wonder if the fear that we loathe or trust
Would ever waste a precious second trying to answer:
What about us [Repeat: x 6]
Do We Come from God?
What about them [Fades out]
He Screams at anyone who'll listen that the end is in sight,
So then he circles the wagons or he just circles then quits
Cause the Highway could become the final battling pit
So when the company wants, Another problem resolved,
Or if the company wants a choice of nothing at all,
Point your thumb out to the highway through the heat and the dust,
And raise your finger in the middle till you shout:
"What About Us!" [Repeat: x 4]
Just like another last call, it means nothing at all,
You either kiss a lot of ass, or tear the clock off the wall,
Another warning ignored another sign of the times,
They say the sky is gonna fall, so why not drink till your blind
So when the company wants another company-man,
Or when the company wants another 1,000 year plan
You'll let your boot go up the road you cannot possibly trust,
Till the screaming hits the ceiling and you ask:
"What About Us?" [Repeat: x 5]
"What About Us?" x4
Don't follow my path to extinction, if I had a mind I'd leave it alone,
We speak of alliteration, transcendental meditation
Like a journey to the inside of carnal-fiction,
Release yourself where the predator prays, rewind your mind, freeze your world apart!
Wage war on the eye which cannot see,
Destroy the temple of emptiness,
And what about them in the wake of damnation,
And what about us? Do We come from God?"
Just like the old soft shoe or the old song and dance
The only check that's in the mail is probably already cashed
Are you a victim of chance? is this the way to succeed?
Or just a crack in the wall of what the people believe,
So when the company wants the final weapon online,
When the company wants to repossess your mind,
You gotta wonder if the fear that we loathe or trust
Would ever waste a precious second trying to answer:
What about us [Repeat: x 6]
Do We Come from God?
What about them [Fades out]
Lyrics submitted by BassistVIV
What About Us? Lyrics as written by Paul G. Barker Alien Jourgensen
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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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 song was on the movie A.I. Artificial intelligence in the flesh fair scene..it is not from the soundtrack of this movie..but on ministry greatest fits..the song fits in well with the subject matter of the movie..the humans against the machines.."what about us? do we come form god?"