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.
On the blind side and down the back ways
The roots of sadness crawl,
When you can't get what you need
You feel like taking a torch to it all
All the sweet talk makes a bitter man
You can feel the darkness rise
Sometimes you don't know what you're fighting for
You don't know who it is you despise.
I am the Halleluiah Man
Break all the rules I'm the King of fools
I'm the renegade in this greytown
And I'll do anything to bring a government down
I am the Halleluiah Man
Yes my friends I've been born again
I'm the black sheep who while shepherds sleep
Will do anything to bring a government down
In a coat of a thousand colours
and a star spangled Cadillac
He picked up a rodeo queen
with whiplash marks all over his back
When dreams don't become their people
People become their dreams
He didn't understand at the time
But now he knows exactly what it means
I am the Halleluiah Man
Break all the rules I'm the King of fools
I'm the renegade in this greytown
And I'll do anything to bring a government down
I am the Halleluiah Man
Yes my friends I've been born again
I'm the black sheep who while shepherds sleep
Will do anything to bring a government down
They said watch out boy be careful where you tread
You're throwing away all that beautiful bread
He slept outside until the world opened up
They've got to understand he's a Halleluiah Man
He says I am the Halleluiah Man
And I'll do anything to bring a government down
He built himself a prison
He knew he had to escape
Some worlds are held together by steel
Some worlds are held together by sellotape
He was drifting through the sharks teeth
He always paid his dues
When something told him he had nothing
That's when he knew he had nothing to lose
He says
I am the Halleluiah Man
Break all the rules I'm the King of fools
I'm the renegade in this greytown
And I'll do anything to bring a government down
I am the Halleluiah Man
Yes my friends I've been born again
I'm the black sheep who while shepherds sleep
Will do anything to bring a government down
When dreams don't become their people
People become their dreams
The roots of sadness crawl,
When you can't get what you need
You feel like taking a torch to it all
All the sweet talk makes a bitter man
You can feel the darkness rise
Sometimes you don't know what you're fighting for
You don't know who it is you despise.
I am the Halleluiah Man
Break all the rules I'm the King of fools
I'm the renegade in this greytown
And I'll do anything to bring a government down
I am the Halleluiah Man
Yes my friends I've been born again
I'm the black sheep who while shepherds sleep
Will do anything to bring a government down
In a coat of a thousand colours
and a star spangled Cadillac
He picked up a rodeo queen
with whiplash marks all over his back
When dreams don't become their people
People become their dreams
He didn't understand at the time
But now he knows exactly what it means
I am the Halleluiah Man
Break all the rules I'm the King of fools
I'm the renegade in this greytown
And I'll do anything to bring a government down
I am the Halleluiah Man
Yes my friends I've been born again
I'm the black sheep who while shepherds sleep
Will do anything to bring a government down
They said watch out boy be careful where you tread
You're throwing away all that beautiful bread
He slept outside until the world opened up
They've got to understand he's a Halleluiah Man
He says I am the Halleluiah Man
And I'll do anything to bring a government down
He built himself a prison
He knew he had to escape
Some worlds are held together by steel
Some worlds are held together by sellotape
He was drifting through the sharks teeth
He always paid his dues
When something told him he had nothing
That's when he knew he had nothing to lose
He says
I am the Halleluiah Man
Break all the rules I'm the King of fools
I'm the renegade in this greytown
And I'll do anything to bring a government down
I am the Halleluiah Man
Yes my friends I've been born again
I'm the black sheep who while shepherds sleep
Will do anything to bring a government down
When dreams don't become their people
People become their dreams
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Halleluiah Man Lyrics as written by James Grant
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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