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 was a cool winter's morning
Somewhere shortly past 9:00 AM
The armored car they wanted to heist wasn't coming
So instead they went for the bank
The fateful duo that sat in the get-away car
Heavily sedated with thousands of round
Armor piercing, fully automatic weapons
The bowls of wrath poured out on the ground
Baptized in a firefight
Hot blood running cold as ice
Forty four minutes of target practice
All hell's breaking loose
Outgunned, watching "The Force" come to a firefight with a pocketknife
Getting schooled until they shot Achilles' heel
And brought down the beast!!!
This was an accident waiting to happen
It wasn't if it would happen, it was when
The city's people sabotaged themselves
Calling their firepower an unneeded expense
The two most violent men it seemed couldn't be stopped
Standard police issue guns were just not enough
But SWAT arrived to settled the fight
Between AK-47 and AR-15
Baptized in a firefight
Hot blood running cold as ice
Forty four minutes of target practice
All hell's breaking loose
Outgunned, watching "The Force" come to a firefight with a pocketknife
Getting schooled until they shot Achilles' heel
And brought down the beast!!!
Baptized in a firefight
Hot blood running cold as ice
Forty four minutes of target practice
All hell's breaking loose
Outgunned, watching "The Force" come to a firefight with a pocketknife
Getting schooled until they shot Achilles' heel
And brought down the beast!!!
Somewhere shortly past 9:00 AM
The armored car they wanted to heist wasn't coming
So instead they went for the bank
The fateful duo that sat in the get-away car
Heavily sedated with thousands of round
Armor piercing, fully automatic weapons
The bowls of wrath poured out on the ground
Baptized in a firefight
Hot blood running cold as ice
Forty four minutes of target practice
All hell's breaking loose
Outgunned, watching "The Force" come to a firefight with a pocketknife
Getting schooled until they shot Achilles' heel
And brought down the beast!!!
This was an accident waiting to happen
It wasn't if it would happen, it was when
The city's people sabotaged themselves
Calling their firepower an unneeded expense
The two most violent men it seemed couldn't be stopped
Standard police issue guns were just not enough
But SWAT arrived to settled the fight
Between AK-47 and AR-15
Baptized in a firefight
Hot blood running cold as ice
Forty four minutes of target practice
All hell's breaking loose
Outgunned, watching "The Force" come to a firefight with a pocketknife
Getting schooled until they shot Achilles' heel
And brought down the beast!!!
Baptized in a firefight
Hot blood running cold as ice
Forty four minutes of target practice
All hell's breaking loose
Outgunned, watching "The Force" come to a firefight with a pocketknife
Getting schooled until they shot Achilles' heel
And brought down the beast!!!
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I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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Great version of a great song,
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the force come to a firefight with a pocketknife is my favorite line. this is my favorite song from the endgame album.
Never forget the news footage on this incident. Was watching the Discovery channel and they were doing a story on these nutjobs. Pretty sure they got the idea from the movie Heat or visa a versa. These two guys were scary and went into it knowing they'll probaly die. Think the one guy offed himself prior to SWAT taking down his partner. If you get a chance you have to check the footage, unbelievable and scary as hell. First time I heard the words I realized it was one and the same story. What they did was wrong yet these guys eptomized what it is to be a bad ass. If you can't view the footage watch Heat, happened basicly the same way. Mustaine you rock with subject matter on the lyrics. Saw these guys at Clash of the Titans and they opened for Judas Priest once. These guys are the real deal. It's bands like Megadeth that keep it real. Was dissappointed with Youthanasia, Cryptic Warnings and the other one that can't remember off hand, but after United Abominations and Endgame I see the old school coming back, accolades to you Mustaine.
Serpent, I agree with the first sentiment, but personally, I think 1,320' wins out, just by a small margin.