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.
Cain said to Abel
"Brother I've been bad
Killed a fleet of Angels
With my bare hands"
Cain said to Abel
"Brother I've been bad
And I can't find my glasses"
This self-obsessed sinner
I hear he loves to drink
This self-obsessed sinner
I hear he loves a fight
Success has been cruel
This year has been hard
Falling out of love
With the one thing I had loathed
This self-obsessed sinner
Discipline, discipline, disappearing
Echoing, echoing, exiting
Disappearing, discipline, disappearing
Nothing there, nothing works, nothing matters
Every time, every time, I look over
Everything, everyone, every time
Family, family, shredded by
Liberty, liberty, literally
You can be, you can be, you can see
Eventually, literally, instantly
History, history, disappearing
Echoing, echoing, exiting
You look up, you look over, you can see it
Disappearing, disappearing, instantly
Literally, literally, telling them
They'll be different, they'll be special, they'll be better
This self-obsessed sinner
"Brother I've been bad
Killed a fleet of Angels
With my bare hands"
Cain said to Abel
"Brother I've been bad
And I can't find my glasses"
This self-obsessed sinner
I hear he loves to drink
This self-obsessed sinner
I hear he loves a fight
Success has been cruel
This year has been hard
Falling out of love
With the one thing I had loathed
This self-obsessed sinner
Discipline, discipline, disappearing
Echoing, echoing, exiting
Disappearing, discipline, disappearing
Nothing there, nothing works, nothing matters
Every time, every time, I look over
Everything, everyone, every time
Family, family, shredded by
Liberty, liberty, literally
You can be, you can be, you can see
Eventually, literally, instantly
History, history, disappearing
Echoing, echoing, exiting
You look up, you look over, you can see it
Disappearing, disappearing, instantly
Literally, literally, telling them
They'll be different, they'll be special, they'll be better
This self-obsessed sinner
Lyrics submitted by Razorlight16
Cain Said to Abel Lyrics as written by Gordon Moakes Russell Lissack
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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 is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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I love this song and its cynical remarks at the "music icons" of today. Cain v. Abel, the bible brothers who killed themselves (though I'm not sure which one killed the other).
Basically, one is the music industry and the other is alluded to famous drinking singers, oh, lets just say Jon.
The lead singer Jon who goes out and parties everynight blowing his cash on hookers and beer then returns to the studio to record a CD or meaningless crap that the nation buys because its shoved down our throat.
This song tells the story of the self-obsessed sinner and relates them to Cain and Abel, basically killing the good of the music industry and the bad remains.
Though in the end they fade away and the new prodigy comes along to screw things up.
BRAVO BLOC PARTY, an amazing song in my opinion. As of right now it's my favorite but that will change soon, all there songs are all too good.