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.
We have to teach them all that we know
Their evolution moves far too slow
Expand their minds and reject compliance
Upgrade their knowledge, upload our science
This revolution will lead to their demise,
We should not make the same mistake twice
We're kept alive by artificial means
We've lost our souls to a world of machines
Listen to the Warning [x8]
We need to teach them to fight disease
They seem so helpless and need our expertise
I see them dying all across the globe
Their greatest foe is but a small microbe
The sudden change leads to overpopulation
Shifting the balance, destructive habitation
Killing a live biological invasion
Consuming it by ruthless exploitation
Can you see the fire in their eyes?
Can you hear the anguish in their cries?
Can you see the beauty in their eyes?
Can you sense the love within their hearts?
I can taste the freedom we once had
I can touch their pain when they feel sad
I can smell the fragrance of the air
I remember times we used to share
(Don't want to live in a world that's dying)
(Don't want to live in a world that's dead)
Listen to the warning [x8]
(Before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all
humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction)
(Human Kind has acquired a collective power and ability to
dramatically alter the environment of the entire planet)
(This will not be another Vietnam)
(The only thing we have to fear is fear itself)
(Our task is not only to win the battle, but to win the war)
We gave them feelings what did they sence?
Shout out the world at their defence.
We gave them science what did they do?
They built a bomb and they used it too.
We gave them wisdom, what did they learn?
Wore out the planet and mare it burn!
We gave them armor, what did they make?
Nuclear weapons for their own sake!
We gave them insight what did they see?
Vanquish the noble, enslave the free!
We gave them wisdom, what did they seek?
Destroying all that's within their reach!
We gave them language, what did they say?
They put the planet in disarray!
We gave them dreams!
What did they dream?
Don't want to live in a world that's dying.
Don't want to live in a world that's dead.
Listen to the warning [x8]
A chain on guilt around her neck
A planet straying in darkness
What can we say in lives we wreck?
I say we should find a way
I say stop this decay
Can you see the fire in their eyes?
Can you hear the anguish in their cries?
Can you see the beauty in their eyes?
Can you sense the love within their hearts?
I can taste the freedom we once had.
I can touch their pain?
I can smell the fragrance of the air.
I remember times we used to share
Their evolution moves far too slow
Expand their minds and reject compliance
Upgrade their knowledge, upload our science
This revolution will lead to their demise,
We should not make the same mistake twice
We're kept alive by artificial means
We've lost our souls to a world of machines
Listen to the Warning [x8]
We need to teach them to fight disease
They seem so helpless and need our expertise
I see them dying all across the globe
Their greatest foe is but a small microbe
The sudden change leads to overpopulation
Shifting the balance, destructive habitation
Killing a live biological invasion
Consuming it by ruthless exploitation
Can you see the fire in their eyes?
Can you hear the anguish in their cries?
Can you see the beauty in their eyes?
Can you sense the love within their hearts?
I can taste the freedom we once had
I can touch their pain when they feel sad
I can smell the fragrance of the air
I remember times we used to share
(Don't want to live in a world that's dying)
(Don't want to live in a world that's dead)
Listen to the warning [x8]
(Before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science engulf all
humanity in planned or accidental self-destruction)
(Human Kind has acquired a collective power and ability to
dramatically alter the environment of the entire planet)
(This will not be another Vietnam)
(The only thing we have to fear is fear itself)
(Our task is not only to win the battle, but to win the war)
We gave them feelings what did they sence?
Shout out the world at their defence.
We gave them science what did they do?
They built a bomb and they used it too.
We gave them wisdom, what did they learn?
Wore out the planet and mare it burn!
We gave them armor, what did they make?
Nuclear weapons for their own sake!
We gave them insight what did they see?
Vanquish the noble, enslave the free!
We gave them wisdom, what did they seek?
Destroying all that's within their reach!
We gave them language, what did they say?
They put the planet in disarray!
We gave them dreams!
What did they dream?
Don't want to live in a world that's dying.
Don't want to live in a world that's dead.
Listen to the warning [x8]
A chain on guilt around her neck
A planet straying in darkness
What can we say in lives we wreck?
I say we should find a way
I say stop this decay
Can you see the fire in their eyes?
Can you hear the anguish in their cries?
Can you see the beauty in their eyes?
Can you sense the love within their hearts?
I can taste the freedom we once had.
I can touch their pain?
I can smell the fragrance of the air.
I remember times we used to share
Lyrics submitted by RainbowDemon
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