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.
First there were women and children obeying the moon
Then daylight brought wisdom and fever and sickness too soon
You can try to remind me instead of the other you can
You can help to insure that we all insecure our command
If you don't give a listen, I won't try to tell your new hand
This is it, can't you see that we all have our ends in the band?
And if all of the teachers and preachers of wealth were arraigned
We could see quite a future for me in the literal sands
And if all of the people could claim to inspect such regret
Well, we'd have no forgiveness, forgetfulness, faithful remorse
So, I tell you, I tell you, I tell you we must send away
We must try to find a new answer instead of a way
Then daylight brought wisdom and fever and sickness too soon
You can try to remind me instead of the other you can
You can help to insure that we all insecure our command
If you don't give a listen, I won't try to tell your new hand
This is it, can't you see that we all have our ends in the band?
And if all of the teachers and preachers of wealth were arraigned
We could see quite a future for me in the literal sands
And if all of the people could claim to inspect such regret
Well, we'd have no forgiveness, forgetfulness, faithful remorse
So, I tell you, I tell you, I tell you we must send away
We must try to find a new answer instead of a way
Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira
Whiskey, Mystics and Men [Version 2] Lyrics as written by John Paul Densmore Jim Morrison
Lyrics © Doors Music Company
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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for me,this song has always been about a search. the original humans had their ways of looking and found what they could. now it's time for a new vision. Old wisdom has turned just that: old, sick and weary. choose your path(like choosing band members). something YOU decide. you can even follow someone else's path if you want. More often than not, if you go with what gives you strong, but healthy, feelings, those emotions create a powerful tool for memory. Seems to me like toward the song's end, he's trying to emphasize his belief in instincts, even though jim himself could be very calculated. overall, I think the erie tone of the song sets the proper mood for looking and searching through dark, unknown areas of one's life. very powerful song.
i agree with the first part of it but it has allot more to do with the rebellious age of the period as well as life in the likes and dislikes of his personal prospective. This also foretells his death, his need for it to come based that no one understands him as well as his aspirations towards life. Its really a Utopian song of life as well as the effects, which in his eye is death.
I love this song!
this may be my favorite song of all time... the poet that is jim morrison was on his A game as always when he wrote the lyics and vocal melody to this song.