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.
It's highway robbery,
And I have my receipts.
The skeletons I meet say they lay on their backs just to pave our way,
Right back to the starting gate.
They run circles around,
The King without a crown.
The speechless make a sound,
And start spreading their love with a boxing glove,
What would you expect from us?
Believe it! Believe it! Believe it!
Let's let you carry the weight of a drifter,
We doubt you've attempted.
Believe it! Believe it! Believe it!
And push your luck if it makes you a promise,
That turns con men honest.
The lap of luxury,
Is not a mercy seat.
The skeletons I meet say they lay on their backs just to lead the way,
Right into the everglades.
They thank their lucky stars,
And lose them in the cards.
Cowards are in charge and their painting their trust with a coat of rust,
What did you expect from us?
Believe it! Believe it! Believe it!
Let's let you carry the weight of a drifter,
We doubt you've attempted.
Believe it! Believe it! Believe it!
And push your luck if it makes you a promise,
That turns con men honest.
And these days, you're raking it in but forget,
That regret, is counting the cards in your hand.
And these days, they probably have to ask themselves,
What did you expect from us?
Believe it! Believe it! Believe it!
Let's let you carry the weight of a drifter,
We doubt you've attempted.
Believe it! Believe it! Believe it!
And push your luck if it makes you a promise,
That turns con men honest.
And I have my receipts.
The skeletons I meet say they lay on their backs just to pave our way,
Right back to the starting gate.
They run circles around,
The King without a crown.
The speechless make a sound,
And start spreading their love with a boxing glove,
What would you expect from us?
Believe it! Believe it! Believe it!
Let's let you carry the weight of a drifter,
We doubt you've attempted.
Believe it! Believe it! Believe it!
And push your luck if it makes you a promise,
That turns con men honest.
The lap of luxury,
Is not a mercy seat.
The skeletons I meet say they lay on their backs just to lead the way,
Right into the everglades.
They thank their lucky stars,
And lose them in the cards.
Cowards are in charge and their painting their trust with a coat of rust,
What did you expect from us?
Believe it! Believe it! Believe it!
Let's let you carry the weight of a drifter,
We doubt you've attempted.
Believe it! Believe it! Believe it!
And push your luck if it makes you a promise,
That turns con men honest.
And these days, you're raking it in but forget,
That regret, is counting the cards in your hand.
And these days, they probably have to ask themselves,
What did you expect from us?
Believe it! Believe it! Believe it!
Let's let you carry the weight of a drifter,
We doubt you've attempted.
Believe it! Believe it! Believe it!
And push your luck if it makes you a promise,
That turns con men honest.
Lyrics submitted by Codfish
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Man...this song is amazing.
The meaning, as for all FTM songs, I'm not too sure about. When i read the lyrics i get a kind of revolutionary vibe against business, or capitalism in general with the "What did you expect from us?" line (Kind of like Dance of the Manatee). Ill take a crack at an interpretation.
"It's highway robbery, and ill have my receipts" I think that Darroh is talking about modern corporate society. They are taking everything from the people and all the people get are their receipts for paying their money.
"The skeletons i meet say their lay on their backs just to pave our way, right back to the starting gate." The skeletons, perhaps, are people who think or pretend they are making a difference, and they "sacrifice" themselves, (lay on their backs), but all they are really doing is leading us back to the beginning. They are skeletons because you can see right through them.
"They run circles around the king without a crown" The king without a crown would probably be the CEOs of corporations such as Exon, etc. Im not sure, but by running circles around them, it means that they keep skirting about the probably and never really get to the "king", or it could just mean they outwit him...idk.
"The speechless make a sound and start spreading their love with a Boxing Glove" In times of crisis, everyone seems to choose a side. There is no middle ground, so people who normally wouldnt say anything start to speak up. "Spreading their love with a boxing glove" is a great line. I see it as meaning people with good ideas feel the need to force it on others, such as Religious Beliefs, or music, (also, a side note: On the inside of the Fables case it says "All songs published by Spreading Love with a Boxing Glove"....i found that funny).
"What did you expect from us?" Why did they think the people would not rise up when they are being oppressed?
"Believe it! Believe it! Believe it! Lets let you carry the weight of a drifter, we doubt you've attempted" This line was taken from a demo version of "Granny Niblo"....perhaps the songs meaning's are connected. But i think the line is telling the big-wigs to realize that this is actually happening, people are actually standing up for themselves, and they ask the big-wigs to "carry the weight of a drifter" meaning take on the personal "weight", or essentially take care of somebody who is useless in a Capitalistic society, but the people doubt they have tried that.
"Believe it! Believe it! Believe it! And push your luck if it makes you a promise, That turns con men honest." I think Darroh is saying that the big-wigs should only take a gamble in business if it actually has the possibility of benefiting someone, when, for the most part, a gamble in business usually only benefits themselves.
"The lap of luxury is not a mercy seat" Being extremely well of does not garner you mercy; you cant be a victim of luxury.
"The skeletons I meet say they lay on their backs just to lead the way, Right into the everglades." Im not really sure what this line means. I assume he is talking about the skeletons that he was talking about in the first verse, but i dont know what significance the everglades have...Maybe he means the everglades as in the wild, as in the "corporate jungle"
"They thank their lucky stars,And lose them in the cards." They thank whoever they thank for their success in business but then they just throw it all away by gambling, (like the Stock Market)
"Cowards are in charge and their painting their trust with a coat of rust, What did you expect from us?" The "cowards" in question would be the same people as "the kings without a crown", and they try to gloss over their sense of caring and understanding for the people they're hurting, but that gloss is already rusted.
(chorus)
"And these days, you're raking it in but forget, That regret, is counting the cards in your hand." They're making all the money they want, but fail to realize all the people they're stepping on, and those people aren't going to let it go, as they are "counting his cards"
"And these days, they probably have to ask themselves, What did you expect from us?" Again, they have to ask themselves why they did not see it coming.
(chorus)
Im not sure if i explained it clearly in my interpretation, (its 1AM and im tired) but i basically see it as people breaking free of their chains of capitalism and rising up, and the Big-Wig's reaction to this. A very Marxist song...heh