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.
nobody cries anymore
and thats the poverty
as in, not if, but what is it when no one comes running
not to need, but be needed in the worst of ways
the worst of times, when there are hungry wolves at your front door
out the back ,you run, you gotta run.
when all the wonders of the world have hidden strings,
to die!, she cries, when its now or never until the end
wasnt today, the day god died
and you camped out on the stars
only to find, tired of lies, (teller of tales), the scientist cries
turn the ace to face
the hungering of television screens
spit fire, raise the dead,
cause tonight were writing love songs
and theyre rolling in the yard.
and if you have one feeling left, i beg you bawl it.
set the hills on fire
believe in me
to turn the page
and fight the suffering
where must the blood fall
to change the stars for madmen?
for those who burn the sea and clouds
and lied to you
and cannot face the fact that all this poverty is stone
its here in you
in criminal faultlines and philosophers shoes
you see
all the wonders of the world have hidden strings.
But could there be, a hand to god
and i could see, but no im blind
the miserable cloud the street
found reason to believe
theres fire in their hearts
theres virtue in their eyes
there is a call to rise
there is a cause to fight
there is a time to die
fight back the poverty
and thats the poverty
as in, not if, but what is it when no one comes running
not to need, but be needed in the worst of ways
the worst of times, when there are hungry wolves at your front door
out the back ,you run, you gotta run.
when all the wonders of the world have hidden strings,
to die!, she cries, when its now or never until the end
wasnt today, the day god died
and you camped out on the stars
only to find, tired of lies, (teller of tales), the scientist cries
turn the ace to face
the hungering of television screens
spit fire, raise the dead,
cause tonight were writing love songs
and theyre rolling in the yard.
and if you have one feeling left, i beg you bawl it.
set the hills on fire
believe in me
to turn the page
and fight the suffering
where must the blood fall
to change the stars for madmen?
for those who burn the sea and clouds
and lied to you
and cannot face the fact that all this poverty is stone
its here in you
in criminal faultlines and philosophers shoes
you see
all the wonders of the world have hidden strings.
But could there be, a hand to god
and i could see, but no im blind
the miserable cloud the street
found reason to believe
theres fire in their hearts
theres virtue in their eyes
there is a call to rise
there is a cause to fight
there is a time to die
fight back the poverty
Lyrics submitted by sarabroc
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