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.
Now can you hear the cling-clang of my ball and chain gang?
The sound of heavy metal that tastes like cellophane
Collapsing every vein like umbrellas in heavy rain
My passion is pain
I do dirt to bury shame
I'm victimized an institution's no solution
A place where you're defenseless and guilt's the prosecution
Where necks are bound into slipknots of shallow souls
Walking narrow roads to be hung from gallows poles
Nobody knows me success has exposed me
To narrow-minded souls with goals to overthrow me
Suppose that I chose to live my life low-key
Would you act like you could teach
When there is nothing you can show me
Don't you understand I'm the head of the class
A straight A student not regretting the past
[CHORUS]
You see I'm okay now but I don't think it will last
Because reality is something I can't seem to grasp
Candy-coated pain is like a ball and chain
Pulling me closer to death, I feel closer to death now
Candy-coated pain is like a ball and chain
We only dig deeper by running away
It's deeper than what it looks like
We never got an equal shot so we took mics
Packed the candy-coated pain in the first pipe
That said my name and the candy-coated pain is the worst type
You got it nice my every day is like your worst night
The world is digging in my wounds screaming out I bet it hurts right?
But it hurts more I got regrets but
I'm glad I took the prize behind the first door
What's the hurt for?
Everybody hungers peace but they thirst war
It's crazy I'm not complaining because I probably would have tried better
And if the people that I trusted weren't lie tellers
So keep your candy-coated pain to make the vibe better
Now all the songs I'm writing sound like suicide letters
[Chorus]
Guilty or innocent whatever pick the verdict
Sometimes a perfect picture's not so perfect
Thought I could reverse the mixture it isn't worth it
Because my life seems to work no matter how bad curse it
I only know a little but I feel so much
The pain brings me down but it reveals the rush
See I got my arms up just to shield the dust
Because I lust for the things I can't seem to touch
Arrest me if I follow you
You congest me I'm so hollow from your gift
You infect me when I cut you
Still the same still insane
I think I love you
(But fuck you)
[Chorus]
The sound of heavy metal that tastes like cellophane
Collapsing every vein like umbrellas in heavy rain
My passion is pain
I do dirt to bury shame
I'm victimized an institution's no solution
A place where you're defenseless and guilt's the prosecution
Where necks are bound into slipknots of shallow souls
Walking narrow roads to be hung from gallows poles
Nobody knows me success has exposed me
To narrow-minded souls with goals to overthrow me
Suppose that I chose to live my life low-key
Would you act like you could teach
When there is nothing you can show me
Don't you understand I'm the head of the class
A straight A student not regretting the past
[CHORUS]
You see I'm okay now but I don't think it will last
Because reality is something I can't seem to grasp
Candy-coated pain is like a ball and chain
Pulling me closer to death, I feel closer to death now
Candy-coated pain is like a ball and chain
We only dig deeper by running away
It's deeper than what it looks like
We never got an equal shot so we took mics
Packed the candy-coated pain in the first pipe
That said my name and the candy-coated pain is the worst type
You got it nice my every day is like your worst night
The world is digging in my wounds screaming out I bet it hurts right?
But it hurts more I got regrets but
I'm glad I took the prize behind the first door
What's the hurt for?
Everybody hungers peace but they thirst war
It's crazy I'm not complaining because I probably would have tried better
And if the people that I trusted weren't lie tellers
So keep your candy-coated pain to make the vibe better
Now all the songs I'm writing sound like suicide letters
[Chorus]
Guilty or innocent whatever pick the verdict
Sometimes a perfect picture's not so perfect
Thought I could reverse the mixture it isn't worth it
Because my life seems to work no matter how bad curse it
I only know a little but I feel so much
The pain brings me down but it reveals the rush
See I got my arms up just to shield the dust
Because I lust for the things I can't seem to touch
Arrest me if I follow you
You congest me I'm so hollow from your gift
You infect me when I cut you
Still the same still insane
I think I love you
(But fuck you)
[Chorus]
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I dont really like rapcore atall, but i like this song, suprisd noones commented on it... its a good song, i guess the meaning speaks for itself in its verses