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.
Don't let them sell you a cage.
Don't bleed for blood that I have bled.
I have thrown no kid to the wolves, so make your peace.
The actor is not who he claimed, so carry on. They have painted gold.
This cage and the actor has betrayed and yet I repeat.
"Please, step away from the ocean. You'll never understand."
White flag.
Victory is such a lonely word,
But I have built my father's house
And I refuse to breathe the breath of the failure.
Resurrect and be blessed by the dead.
Don't dig up old bones.
Don't bleed for blood that I have bled.
I have thrown no kid to the wolves, so make your peace.
The actor is not who he claimed, so carry on. They have painted gold.
This cage and the actor has betrayed and yet I repeat.
"Please, step away from the ocean. You'll never understand."
White flag.
Victory is such a lonely word,
But I have built my father's house
And I refuse to breathe the breath of the failure.
Resurrect and be blessed by the dead.
Don't dig up old bones.
Lyrics submitted by BinacaFreak
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Wowwww, such a legit song! Here's what I've gotten out of it so far:
Don't let them sell you a cage. -Don't let this world trap you, try to tell you not to live a Christian life and make a life of sin look good while it really just cages you in sin.
Don't bleed for blood that I have bled. -Coming from the perspective of the Father, he already gave his Son for you, He has already paid the price for your sins, and you can't receive forgiveness on your own.
I have thrown no kid to the wolves, so make your peace. -Most likely still talking from God's perspective, saying something along the lines of that he doesn't forsake anyone, and because of this fact, you should decide whether you want to surrender your life to Him.
The actor is not who he claimed, so carry on. They have painted gold. -Perhaps talking about fake people or false faiths, and how they aren't what they seem. They look great, but only because of the gold is painted over them to make them look good, almost like something being "gilded", which hides what's really underneath. These things aren't what they claim, because they can never even get close to measuring up to the Father, and just leave you desolate.
This cage and the actor has betrayed and yet I repeat. -The traps that many people in this world fall into, and the things they put their faith into don't ever live up to what they think they will, and he says it over and over but people still fall into it, regardless of what he is telling them.
"Please, step away from the ocean. You'll never understand." -I'm pretty sure this is from the perspective of someone led astray, telling someone who is trying to share their faith to leave them alone, that they don't understand what their going through, or maybe it's vice versa?
White flag. -White flags most commonly mean surrender, so I think this means something along the lines of surrendering your life to Christ.
Victory is such a lonely word, -How even if you succeed in this world, you remain lonely and empty inside, if you "win" by rejecting Him and continuing by following your own ways you will always long for something more.
But I have built my father's house -Instead of rejecting Christ, he has embraced Him, surrendering his life now he spreads the "Father's house" by telling others about the God's love for them.
And I refuse to breathe the breath of the failure. -And he refuses to turn away from the Father, and live in sin; instead he will repent and follow Him.
Resurrect and be blessed by the dead. -Become reborn through Christ, and be "blessed", or saved by Him. He was once dead after dying for our sins, but rose again.
Don't dig up old bones. -Don't return to old ways, wrong faiths, putting faith in the world rather than Christ?(not sure on this one)
I think the perspective of the whole song could be from the same speaker. either God or Christ or even a person sharing their faith.<br /> <br /> Cage = world entrapments<br /> <br /> blood = sacrifices, either Jesus' or a christians personal life lessons<br /> <br /> I have thrown no kid to the wolves, so make your peace = I wouldn't steer you wrong accept Christ.<br /> <br /> <br />
Don't let them sell you a cage. Don't bleed for blood that I have bled. I have thrown no kid to the wolves, so make your peace
thats being said by God to him and telling him to not get too caught up with the world, dont punish yourself for yours sins because jesus died on the cross for that, and hes saying that hes never left anyone alone
i dont know what hes trying to say in the rest of that verse
And I refuse to breathe the breath of the failure.
he refuses to follow in the footsteps of a failure