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.
Dear, Ron MacLean
Dear, Coach's Corner
I'm writing in order
For someone to explain
To my niece, the distinction
Between these mandatory pre-game group rites of submission
And the rallies at Nuremburg
Specifically the function
The ritual serves in conjunction
With what everybody knows
Is in the end a kid's game
I'm just appealing to your sense of fair play
When I say
She's puzzled by
This incessant pressure
For her to not defy
Collective will
Yellow-ribboned lapels
As the soldiers inexplicably rappel
Down from the arena rafters
If not so insane
Would be grounds for screaming laughter
Dear, Ron MacLean
I wouldn't bother with these questions
If I didn't sense some spiritual connection
We may not be the same
But it's not like we're from different planets
we both love this game so much
we can hardly fucking stand it
Alberta-born, prairie-raised
Ain't a sheet of ice north of Fargo I ain't played
From Penhold to the Gatineau
Every fond memory of childhood that I know
Is somehow connected
To the culture of this game, I can't just let it go
I guess it comes down to
What kind of world you want
To live in
If diversity is disagreement
Disagreement is treason
Well, don't be surprised if we find ourselves reaping
A strange and bitter fruit
That sad old man beside you
Keeps feeding to young minds as virtue
It takes a village to raise a child
A flag to raze the children
'Til they're nothing more than ballast for fulfilling
A madman's dream
Of a paradise
Complexity reduced to black and white
How do I
Protect her from
This cult of death?
Dear, Coach's Corner
I'm writing in order
For someone to explain
To my niece, the distinction
Between these mandatory pre-game group rites of submission
And the rallies at Nuremburg
Specifically the function
The ritual serves in conjunction
With what everybody knows
Is in the end a kid's game
I'm just appealing to your sense of fair play
When I say
She's puzzled by
This incessant pressure
For her to not defy
Collective will
Yellow-ribboned lapels
As the soldiers inexplicably rappel
Down from the arena rafters
If not so insane
Would be grounds for screaming laughter
Dear, Ron MacLean
I wouldn't bother with these questions
If I didn't sense some spiritual connection
We may not be the same
But it's not like we're from different planets
we both love this game so much
we can hardly fucking stand it
Alberta-born, prairie-raised
Ain't a sheet of ice north of Fargo I ain't played
From Penhold to the Gatineau
Every fond memory of childhood that I know
Is somehow connected
To the culture of this game, I can't just let it go
I guess it comes down to
What kind of world you want
To live in
If diversity is disagreement
Disagreement is treason
Well, don't be surprised if we find ourselves reaping
A strange and bitter fruit
That sad old man beside you
Keeps feeding to young minds as virtue
It takes a village to raise a child
A flag to raze the children
'Til they're nothing more than ballast for fulfilling
A madman's dream
Of a paradise
Complexity reduced to black and white
How do I
Protect her from
This cult of death?
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I think the line "I’m just appealing to your sense of fair play" could be written as "I’m just appealing to your sense of 'fair play'" in reference to the Fair Play initiative from Hockey Canada that guides parents, players, and fans to be fair and respectful to each other (behavior, inclusiveness, etc) and HNiC always pushes this initiative as much as they can, but Cherry doesn't exactly act within it's guidelines (xenophobic, crass, and disrespectful commentary), almost seeming like a request for them to practice what they preach