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.
I thought I was a victim
The people hated me
I never had a homeland
I had no safety
One day I saw a beast coming
From across the sea
I never knew fear
Until he came for me
I called for the killer
I looked for the knife
I drank from his river
And ruined my life
I saw him coming at me
So empty and so cold
I never knew emotion til he caught me in his fold
Can you march for even one more day
With a beast right up in your face?
Can you see me dying in this house
And anyhow
Saw a man and then I thought I called him Hurricane
Out of the harness
Let it go let it go
Stumble in the darkness
Turn on the light ya
Get into the madness
Now take your pills
Tryin to be righteous
I love the beast ya
Out of the harness
Let it go let it go
Stumble in the darkness
Turn on the light ya
Get into the madness
Now take your pills
Tryin to be righteous
I love the beast ya
I stopped being the victim
But you weren't there to see
I never felt better
Until you prayed for me
I felt like a refugee from the grave
I had to wear that stuff in the shade (?)
Dissin in life
With your crying game
I never fell in love so deeply in vain
I stand wild
And nothing's my side
And while I'll slowly die
Deeply from the inside
And now I scream to the "another day"
Never again, Mr. Hurricane
Out of the harness
Let it go let it go
Stumble in the darkness
Turn on the light ya
Get into the madness
Now take your pills
Tryin to be righteous
I love the beast ya
Out of the harness
Let it go let it go
Stumble in the darkness
Turn on the light ya
Get into the madness
Now take your pills
Tryin to be righteous
I love the beast ya
Don't mess with the Beast Mr. Hurricane
You'll never get to be so freely insane
The people hated me
I never had a homeland
I had no safety
One day I saw a beast coming
From across the sea
I never knew fear
Until he came for me
I called for the killer
I looked for the knife
I drank from his river
And ruined my life
I saw him coming at me
So empty and so cold
I never knew emotion til he caught me in his fold
Can you march for even one more day
With a beast right up in your face?
Can you see me dying in this house
And anyhow
Saw a man and then I thought I called him Hurricane
Out of the harness
Let it go let it go
Stumble in the darkness
Turn on the light ya
Get into the madness
Now take your pills
Tryin to be righteous
I love the beast ya
Out of the harness
Let it go let it go
Stumble in the darkness
Turn on the light ya
Get into the madness
Now take your pills
Tryin to be righteous
I love the beast ya
I stopped being the victim
But you weren't there to see
I never felt better
Until you prayed for me
I felt like a refugee from the grave
I had to wear that stuff in the shade (?)
Dissin in life
With your crying game
I never fell in love so deeply in vain
I stand wild
And nothing's my side
And while I'll slowly die
Deeply from the inside
And now I scream to the "another day"
Never again, Mr. Hurricane
Out of the harness
Let it go let it go
Stumble in the darkness
Turn on the light ya
Get into the madness
Now take your pills
Tryin to be righteous
I love the beast ya
Out of the harness
Let it go let it go
Stumble in the darkness
Turn on the light ya
Get into the madness
Now take your pills
Tryin to be righteous
I love the beast ya
Don't mess with the Beast Mr. Hurricane
You'll never get to be so freely insane
Lyrics submitted by ashjenbff
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I like your take Mr Hooligan. I have always felt that "the beast" was some sort of universal metaphor/archetypal destructive power/being/evil (however you'd like to imagine or classify it). It's true that the lyrics seem to contradict themselves. Does she hate/fear or love the beast and Mr. Hurricane. I always sort of puzzled about it, so I sat down and listened to the song while reading the lyrics at the same time. My interpretation-which may be completely different than the intended meaning when written-suddenly seems to make so much sense (to me at least). In my opinion, the "beast" and "Mr. Hurricane" are actually one in the same. I see the beast's name as Mr. Hurricane. If you re-read the lyrics from this light there are no contradictions. I also strongly relate this song to addiction in my mind. It reminds me of my past addictions to food and alcohol, which although an immense struggle, I managed to overcome and am now grateful for the experience that forced me to grow and change into who I am today. Hence the songs ability to speak to how the "beast" was both the most scary thing ever yet she loved it at the time and loves it/appreciates what it made her now.