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.
Men whose names are great, I am writing you a letter
That you will read perhaps if you have the time
Men whose names are great, I don't want to do that
I am not on earth to kill miserable mankind......
Messieurs qu'on nomme grand, je vous fais une lettre
Que vous lirez peut-ítre si vous avez le temps
Je viens de recevoir mes papiers militaires
Pour aller à la guerre avant mercredi soir
Messieurs qu'on nomme grand je ne veux pas la faire
Je ne suis pas sur terre pour tuer les pauvres gens
Il n'faut pas vous fâcher mais il faut que je vous dise
Les guerres sont des bítises le monde en a assez
Depuis que je suis né j'ai vu mourir des frères
J'ai vu partir des pères et les enfants pleurer
Les mères ont trop souffert quand d'autres se gobergent
Et vivant à leur aise malgré la boue de sang
Il y'a les prisoniers on a volé leurs âmes
On a volé leurs femmes et tout le cher passé
Demain de bon matin je fermerai la porte
Au nez des années mortes j'irai par les chemins
Je mendierai ma vie sur la terre et sur l'onde
Du vieux au nouveau monde et je dirai aux gens
Profitez de la vie eloignez la misère
Les hommes sont tous des frères gens de tous les pays
S'il faut verser le sang allez verser le vôtre
Messieurs les bons apôtres messieurs qu'on nomme grand
Si vous me poursuivez prévenez vos gendarmes
Que je serai sans armes et qu'ils pourront tirer
Et qu'ils pourront tirer
That you will read perhaps if you have the time
Men whose names are great, I don't want to do that
I am not on earth to kill miserable mankind......
Messieurs qu'on nomme grand, je vous fais une lettre
Que vous lirez peut-ítre si vous avez le temps
Je viens de recevoir mes papiers militaires
Pour aller à la guerre avant mercredi soir
Messieurs qu'on nomme grand je ne veux pas la faire
Je ne suis pas sur terre pour tuer les pauvres gens
Il n'faut pas vous fâcher mais il faut que je vous dise
Les guerres sont des bítises le monde en a assez
Depuis que je suis né j'ai vu mourir des frères
J'ai vu partir des pères et les enfants pleurer
Les mères ont trop souffert quand d'autres se gobergent
Et vivant à leur aise malgré la boue de sang
Il y'a les prisoniers on a volé leurs âmes
On a volé leurs femmes et tout le cher passé
Demain de bon matin je fermerai la porte
Au nez des années mortes j'irai par les chemins
Je mendierai ma vie sur la terre et sur l'onde
Du vieux au nouveau monde et je dirai aux gens
Profitez de la vie eloignez la misère
Les hommes sont tous des frères gens de tous les pays
S'il faut verser le sang allez verser le vôtre
Messieurs les bons apôtres messieurs qu'on nomme grand
Si vous me poursuivez prévenez vos gendarmes
Que je serai sans armes et qu'ils pourront tirer
Et qu'ils pourront tirer
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings, edited by Mellow_Harsher
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