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.
Guns slung low and taut
Iron fists regrip and tighten down
Pressing hard and close
Scanning eyes alive search all around
Unleash hell and fire
Raining chaos, crashing in
The screaming in the street calling far away
I taste the shock, the perfume of this war
Far away, far away
I stand and dream of going home
Far away, far away
I lay down in this mess
I'm scared and brave as stone
Foreign lands of sinking sands so strange and unfamiliar
And holden to the code of honor, bound to defend
We are strong, believe the warrior inside
Won't turn from
With honor we will not turn away
Don't forget about God's reason to be
It's all arranged
Predestining
The ancient call
The one and all
Take arms and go
Don't you forget about it
Don't ever set your mind to roam
Desert wind blows hot save for the nighttime
Turn your gaze to the mirage
A simple word can't describe the ruins
And you're burdened with the questions now at hand
They turn to dust
Sorrowful the dirge, the song, the wailing of the wounded
No respite from the battle at the edge of the fray
Night is falling
There's been funeral pyres been burning on for lifetimes
With honor, we will not walk away
When consolation wears a hidden smile (Hidden smile)
I erase my yesterdays (All of them, every one)
And all my complaints fade into gray (Fade to gray
Fade...fading)
My faith aligned with my fate
(My spirit soars, I see your face)
Over again I set my aim
to the place that I call home
Tension never lets up
Always on the edge and on the guard
Never dream of sleep
Wayward flares illuminate the dark
Hold the line and run
Random sniper fire sends shots
I'm hurdling the snares trying to cripple me
against a bloodshot sky and watching moon
Far away, far away
We hunker down and disappear
Far away, far away
In black we're waiting
for the daybreak
and the earth shake for sunrise
Heroes bleed the same as you when smitten with the combat
You swallow fury with your every breath
Every breath
Set the flag and carry on, and carry on into the unknown
With honor, we will not walk away
Home someday
Iron fists regrip and tighten down
Pressing hard and close
Scanning eyes alive search all around
Unleash hell and fire
Raining chaos, crashing in
The screaming in the street calling far away
I taste the shock, the perfume of this war
Far away, far away
I stand and dream of going home
Far away, far away
I lay down in this mess
I'm scared and brave as stone
Foreign lands of sinking sands so strange and unfamiliar
And holden to the code of honor, bound to defend
We are strong, believe the warrior inside
Won't turn from
With honor we will not turn away
Don't forget about God's reason to be
It's all arranged
Predestining
The ancient call
The one and all
Take arms and go
Don't you forget about it
Don't ever set your mind to roam
Desert wind blows hot save for the nighttime
Turn your gaze to the mirage
A simple word can't describe the ruins
And you're burdened with the questions now at hand
They turn to dust
Sorrowful the dirge, the song, the wailing of the wounded
No respite from the battle at the edge of the fray
Night is falling
There's been funeral pyres been burning on for lifetimes
With honor, we will not walk away
When consolation wears a hidden smile (Hidden smile)
I erase my yesterdays (All of them, every one)
And all my complaints fade into gray (Fade to gray
Fade...fading)
My faith aligned with my fate
(My spirit soars, I see your face)
Over again I set my aim
to the place that I call home
Tension never lets up
Always on the edge and on the guard
Never dream of sleep
Wayward flares illuminate the dark
Hold the line and run
Random sniper fire sends shots
I'm hurdling the snares trying to cripple me
against a bloodshot sky and watching moon
Far away, far away
We hunker down and disappear
Far away, far away
In black we're waiting
for the daybreak
and the earth shake for sunrise
Heroes bleed the same as you when smitten with the combat
You swallow fury with your every breath
Every breath
Set the flag and carry on, and carry on into the unknown
With honor, we will not walk away
Home someday
Lyrics submitted by Octavarium64
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