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.
Huddled in this acid nation,
With apprehension,
You are expected
To gulp down hindrance
Huddled in this acid nation,
With apprehension,
You are expected
To gulp down hindrance
This is a celebration of,
Spirit and of mind.
When your body's resignation,
Is heard you can't ignore
This is an acid nation.
We will persevere.
This is an acid nation.
We will persevere.
Feel the rays beat down!
Feel the rays beat down!
Next time you open your eyes,
Be thankful the world,
Never wears a disguise,
Here's the sun to reveal
This is an acid nation,
We will persevere.
This is an acid nation,
We will persevere.
Feel the rays beat down!
Feel the rays beat down!
And anyway who cares?
The sun is out
So
Stare at the sun.
Stare at the sun.
This is everything I ever wanted.
This is everything I ever wanted.
This is everything I ever wanted.
This feeling's all I need.
With apprehension,
You are expected
To gulp down hindrance
Huddled in this acid nation,
With apprehension,
You are expected
To gulp down hindrance
This is a celebration of,
Spirit and of mind.
When your body's resignation,
Is heard you can't ignore
This is an acid nation.
We will persevere.
This is an acid nation.
We will persevere.
Feel the rays beat down!
Feel the rays beat down!
Next time you open your eyes,
Be thankful the world,
Never wears a disguise,
Here's the sun to reveal
This is an acid nation,
We will persevere.
This is an acid nation,
We will persevere.
Feel the rays beat down!
Feel the rays beat down!
And anyway who cares?
The sun is out
So
Stare at the sun.
Stare at the sun.
This is everything I ever wanted.
This is everything I ever wanted.
This is everything I ever wanted.
This feeling's all I need.
Lyrics submitted by ManOnTheEdge
Acid Nation Lyrics as written by Liam Rory Clewlow Chris Batten
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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First comment, fucking nice one. Great song. It has such a beautiful sound, loving the synth.
I think the song is about how messed up the world is, but we must enjoy the good things in to get through life.
For instance, “Huddled in this acid nation with apprehension” – We are here on this earth as a massive group that has so much energy that people just don’t know what to do with themselves, which causes a feeling of dread and anxiety.
People have free will and act the way they want, where we are expected to tolerate peoples behaviour. (Attacked in the street, Crime e.tc.) which we cannot stop. This is portrayed with the words “You are expected to gulp down hindrance”, meaning that others get in they way and obstruct our actions.
However, we live in a nation better than most and have the 5 basic needs, so therefore we must be grateful for what we do have and should celebrate.
The line “This is a celebration of spirit and of mind” could relate to the feeling of love for someone, a form of spiritual enlightenment where you free yourself from the attachment of the world. As when people are in love, they see the world in another light. Its like a natural drug, for instance, the hormone Dopamine is realeased in the brain when people have feelings of love for someone and is responsible for motivation and pleasure in the human body.
“When your bodies resignation is heard you can ignore” – this means that we must accept that the world isn’t going to change, and once we accept this we can move on and ignore those who put us down. Its about finding yourself as a person.
Also the words “This is an assignation”, could be about meeting a lover and the wonderful feelings for them, in an “acid nation” which is dishonest and is full of corruption. Maybe its saying that a connection of being close to someone is an amazing experience, considering that the government and the world is so deceitful.
“We will persevere” – means that the feeling of happiness brought about by such a belief in love will get you through any problem or difficulty.
“FEEL THE RAYS BEAT DOWN” – is about the general pain people cause each other.
“And anyway who cares? THE SUN IS OUT!” – is saying that we must forget the bad and concentrate on more positive experiences.
“STARE, AT THE, SUN” – Hold your head high, search for the good.
“This is everything I ever wanted. This feelings all i need.”
-Again finding self and love, making the most of what you have. The great feelings brought about from love.
Anyways, that was my interpretation. What a great song this is =]