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.
Gunships in a storm sinking to the ocean floor
And with them goes the cause we all were fighting for
Fire on the door as we wash up on the shore
The colours we have worn only left our nation torn
I hear it coming through the wall
Is that another rebel's call?
Lost out in a lover's squall,
And there won't be no right or wrong.
And we won't sing no victory song,
For a nation that was torn
In a lover's civil war
Gunships in a storm sinking to the ocean floor
And with them goes the cause we all were fighting for
Fire on the door as we wash up on the shore
The colours we have worn only left our nation torn
So is this grace's last stand?
And will I see your face again,
Or can we find no common land?
And through the windows that got blown,
Comes the thought of the unknown,
And was that six years coming past?
In the shrapnel of a blast
Gunships in a storm sinking to the ocean floor
And with them goes the cause we all were fighting for
Fire on the door as we wash up on the shore
The colours we have worn only left our nation torn
Drawing lines in the sand...
Has the ship sunk fast?
And was that six years coming past,
In the bullet and a blast
And with them goes the cause we all were fighting for
Fire on the door as we wash up on the shore
The colours we have worn only left our nation torn
I hear it coming through the wall
Is that another rebel's call?
Lost out in a lover's squall,
And there won't be no right or wrong.
And we won't sing no victory song,
For a nation that was torn
In a lover's civil war
Gunships in a storm sinking to the ocean floor
And with them goes the cause we all were fighting for
Fire on the door as we wash up on the shore
The colours we have worn only left our nation torn
So is this grace's last stand?
And will I see your face again,
Or can we find no common land?
And through the windows that got blown,
Comes the thought of the unknown,
And was that six years coming past?
In the shrapnel of a blast
Gunships in a storm sinking to the ocean floor
And with them goes the cause we all were fighting for
Fire on the door as we wash up on the shore
The colours we have worn only left our nation torn
Drawing lines in the sand...
Has the ship sunk fast?
And was that six years coming past,
In the bullet and a blast
Lyrics submitted by jujube111
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i know it sounds cliche but i can't believe there are NO COMMENTS on this song!!! i love it so much, one of my favourites on the album. sounds like its political,... but i know nothing about that or history, so i'll let someone else elaborate on that concept if they wish :)
I love this song! It sounds vaguely familiar though. I think it could be about how nationalism can often be a nation's downfall, 'The colours we have worn only left our nation torn'
I get the feeling that they're asking why a nation would have extreme pride if inside there was civil war and rebels everywhere. How can you say a country is great when people are dying? Over something as simple as a lover's dispute, sort of thing. I dunno, just guessing here.
i kinda think it's about a relationship that went down after an argument, and he's just using metaphors and whatnot
It's a song dedicated to those in the military who died for a lost cause. This song was written/released six years after the Afghanistan invasion, so it's likely to be specifically referring to those people. The meaning is pretty straightforward.
That said, it's a beautiful dedication, both to the living and the dead who fought hard, did their duty, and sacrificed everything for a war that tore our own nation apart.