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.
Down upon our souls we will ride
And it serves you right to build your kingdom in the sky
I man na lie, what a lullaby you sing to a young man so
Man down, way down, down upon our head and his soul
It was just a thought in the air, like something planted in the atmosphere, my dear
Oh my suffer loss is real
Oh why, why, why must we be shackled on ya
We were treated like a number and talked to like a fool
You better ascend before you're gone for so long
And the wind blow I man got to carry the soul of the waterfall
We're still so powerful my friends, you have got nothing to fear, nuclear
Oh the mighty stone building across them land
But the higher they build man try to fly over world
Man breaking their heart and so taking their head as them goal, man I pray
Still dey man champion so I, I, I, ring a man bone
But they throw rock, rock, rock, rock, rock stone Jah messenger down
Oh man erase them with wit and anger, like it was a joke, that that man say
Oh my suffer loss is real
What a rocky man road
But we shall embrace our souls against them
I mean don't let another day, go by
Down upon our souls we will ride
And it serves you right to build your kingdom in the sky
I man na lie, what a lullaby you sing to a young man so
Man down, way down, down upon our head and his soul
It was just a thought in the air, like something planted in the atmosphere, my dear
Oh my suffer loss is real
Oh why, why, why must we be shackled on ya
We were treated like a number and talked to like a fool
You better ascend before you're gone for so long
And the wind blow I man got to carry the soul of the waterfall
We're still so powerful my friends, you have got nothing to fear, nuclear
Oh the mighty stone building across them land
But the higher they build man try to fly over world
Man breaking their heart and so taking their head as them goal, man I pray
Still dey man champion so I, I, I, ring a man bone
But they throw rock, rock, rock, rock, rock stone Jah messenger down
Oh man erase them with wit and anger, like it was a joke, that that man say
Oh my suffer loss is real
What a rocky man road
But we shall embrace our souls against them
I mean don't let another day, go by
Down upon our souls we will ride
Lyrics submitted by softasfire
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