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.
What's going on all over this whole wide world?
What's going on all over this whole wide world?
Calling there's an emergency and I'm only dialling cause it's necessary
Calling there's an emergency and I'm only dialling cause it's necessary
What is going on in addy planet Earth? Dat ah where we live it addy place of our birth
Madness and mayhem man the world is corrupt, like a volcano it soon will erupt
Calling there's an emergency and I'm only dialling cause it's necessary
Calling there's an emergency and I'm only dialling cause it's necessary
Look at the people in the streets, everywhere they don't seem like they care
And everyone is getting mad, it just seems like we've all lost the plot
Calling there's an emergency and I'm only dialling cause it's necessary
999 there's an emergency and I'm only calling cause it's necessary
These cities are on fire and the pandemonium's getting higher
All these cities are on fire and the pandemonium's getting higher
State of emergency, I'm gonna tell everyone
Check it out blood it ain't meant to be
The way they carry on man it's so crazy
When I think trouble is coming for me
I lay down in my bed and call the almighty
Now everybody can see hate is ugly and it's everywhere
You say you wanner be free
Yet everyday for the war you prepare
Calling there's an emergency and I'm only calling cause it's necessary
911 there's an emergency and I'm only calling cause it's necessary
These cities are on fire and the pandemonium's getting higher
All these cities are on fire and the pandemonium's getting higher
What's going on all over this whole wide world?
What's going on all over this whole wide world?
New York London Paris and Pill
Kingston Compton Birmingham Cape Hill
Moscow Bradford Brixton Amsterdam
Hamburg Detroit Karrabul Ely Milan
Basra Havana Rio Wolverhampton
San Paulo Sydney Osaka Lisbon Czechnya
Logos LA and Sudan Jerusalem
Gaza Strip Washington
State of emergency, I'm gonna tell everyone
There's a state of emergency I'm gonna tell everyone
These cities are on fire and the pandemonium's getting higher
All these places are on fire and the pandemonium's getting higher
State of emergency, I'm gonna tell everyone
There's a state of emergency I'm gonna tell everyone
New York London Paris and Pill
Kingston Compton Birmingham Cape Hill
Moscow Bradford Brixton Amsterdam
Hamburg Detroit Karrabul Ely Milan
Basra Havana Rio Wolverhampton
San Paulo Sydney Osaka Lisbon Czechnya
Logos LA and Sudan Jerusalem
Gaza Strip Washington
State of emergency, State of emergency, State of emergency, State of emergency, State of emergency, State of emergency, State of emergency, State of emergency, State of emergency, State of emergency, State of emergency.
What's going on all over this whole wide world?
Calling there's an emergency and I'm only dialling cause it's necessary
Calling there's an emergency and I'm only dialling cause it's necessary
What is going on in addy planet Earth? Dat ah where we live it addy place of our birth
Madness and mayhem man the world is corrupt, like a volcano it soon will erupt
Calling there's an emergency and I'm only dialling cause it's necessary
Calling there's an emergency and I'm only dialling cause it's necessary
Look at the people in the streets, everywhere they don't seem like they care
And everyone is getting mad, it just seems like we've all lost the plot
Calling there's an emergency and I'm only dialling cause it's necessary
999 there's an emergency and I'm only calling cause it's necessary
These cities are on fire and the pandemonium's getting higher
All these cities are on fire and the pandemonium's getting higher
State of emergency, I'm gonna tell everyone
Check it out blood it ain't meant to be
The way they carry on man it's so crazy
When I think trouble is coming for me
I lay down in my bed and call the almighty
Now everybody can see hate is ugly and it's everywhere
You say you wanner be free
Yet everyday for the war you prepare
Calling there's an emergency and I'm only calling cause it's necessary
911 there's an emergency and I'm only calling cause it's necessary
These cities are on fire and the pandemonium's getting higher
All these cities are on fire and the pandemonium's getting higher
What's going on all over this whole wide world?
What's going on all over this whole wide world?
New York London Paris and Pill
Kingston Compton Birmingham Cape Hill
Moscow Bradford Brixton Amsterdam
Hamburg Detroit Karrabul Ely Milan
Basra Havana Rio Wolverhampton
San Paulo Sydney Osaka Lisbon Czechnya
Logos LA and Sudan Jerusalem
Gaza Strip Washington
State of emergency, I'm gonna tell everyone
There's a state of emergency I'm gonna tell everyone
These cities are on fire and the pandemonium's getting higher
All these places are on fire and the pandemonium's getting higher
State of emergency, I'm gonna tell everyone
There's a state of emergency I'm gonna tell everyone
New York London Paris and Pill
Kingston Compton Birmingham Cape Hill
Moscow Bradford Brixton Amsterdam
Hamburg Detroit Karrabul Ely Milan
Basra Havana Rio Wolverhampton
San Paulo Sydney Osaka Lisbon Czechnya
Logos LA and Sudan Jerusalem
Gaza Strip Washington
State of emergency, State of emergency, State of emergency, State of emergency, State of emergency, State of emergency, State of emergency, State of emergency, State of emergency, State of emergency, State of emergency.
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