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.
You won't believe the things I've seen
Far beyond your wildest dreams
I've seen chaos and order reign supreme
I've seen the beauty of the universe so peaceful and serene
In seconds turn to violence and screams
I've seen true genius
Too often elude the meaningless
Appreciation of this mediocre nation
I've heard the mindless repetition
Of empty words without tradition
Turn original verbs into submission
I smelled this malignerance addiction
But I guess I wouldn't be right
If I said the blunt was like a baby pipe
There ain't gonna be no revolution tonight
Half my warriors as high as a kite
Lost and they lost all they fight
And I've tasted, the bitter tragedy of lives wasted
And men who glimpsed the darkness inside, but never faced it
And it's a shame that most of y'all are followin' sheep
Wallowin' deeper than the darkness, you're fallin' asleep
You won't believe the things I've seen
Far beyond your wildest dreams
I've seen chaos and order reign supreme
I've seen the beauty of the universe so peaceful and serene
In seconds turn to violence and screams
I've seen and experienced things
That'll push the average to the edge and swan dive to death
I'm two guys, multiplied by ninety-three guys
Evenly balanced seein' evil equally in each eye now
Maybe I'm the most thorough worker on the job to you
Or maybe I'm the one, who was plottin' to rob you
The fear of this beatdown, no women or no cash to floss
Makes most of y'all hustle ya ass off
From nothin to two mill', in five years I'll live to see it
Vanish in six months, with no tears believe it, I'll rock
Twenty-eight years before the Feds can lay a trace
See they plan is to erase me, just to replace me
Hmm like, your heart is warring with your brain
Emotional or reason, now which one do you obey?
Hmm like, somebody callin' you insane
When overwhelmed and blessed
Bursting tears of happiness
Yo, yo, I've seen relationships that's so sick
Life long friendships so cha-o-tic
Thug cat bangin his chick but won't kiss
Drinkin her spit, when coppin a fix for dope bliss
I got a knife and a bat, to bust your brain
Put the knife in your back once in the life, I was trifling like that
Like my man Troy, who lost his days
Shootin' dice on worldly ways and ended up in a early grave
Because once in a lifetime is rough
Twice in a lifetime you combat the ghosts of mistrust
Mentally cuffed, thrust by a cop thinkin he tough
You bust, Amadou Diallo is us, and what
Now I'm on my knees, beggin GOD PLEASE
Save me from the fires of hell
Let water water soul prevail, 'cause I can't take no more
Who's that knockin', at, my door?
Is that you, Pete from Cobb's Creek, who died in his sleep?
We was playin' for fun, now it's keeps
Like my man Mark I beat to death wrapped in a carpet
And left in the garbage, damn now that's cold-hearted
Ask Book he saw it, "Yo black I ain't seen shit!
Kids in the 6, they flip for nonsense"
Poke an icepick, smokin' that sniff, coke to preschool fool
And packin' a tool, fuck you Mom Dukes it's cool
You won't believe the things I've seen
Far beyond your wildest dreams
I've seen chaos and order reign supreme
I've seen the beauty of the universe so peaceful and serene
In seconds turn to violence and screams
Ooh like, your heart is warring with your brain
Emotional or reason, now which one do you obey?
Hmm like, somebody callin' you insane
When overwhelmed and blessed, bursting tears of happiness
Far beyond your wildest dreams
I've seen chaos and order reign supreme
I've seen the beauty of the universe so peaceful and serene
In seconds turn to violence and screams
I've seen true genius
Too often elude the meaningless
Appreciation of this mediocre nation
I've heard the mindless repetition
Of empty words without tradition
Turn original verbs into submission
I smelled this malignerance addiction
But I guess I wouldn't be right
If I said the blunt was like a baby pipe
There ain't gonna be no revolution tonight
Half my warriors as high as a kite
Lost and they lost all they fight
And I've tasted, the bitter tragedy of lives wasted
And men who glimpsed the darkness inside, but never faced it
And it's a shame that most of y'all are followin' sheep
Wallowin' deeper than the darkness, you're fallin' asleep
You won't believe the things I've seen
Far beyond your wildest dreams
I've seen chaos and order reign supreme
I've seen the beauty of the universe so peaceful and serene
In seconds turn to violence and screams
I've seen and experienced things
That'll push the average to the edge and swan dive to death
I'm two guys, multiplied by ninety-three guys
Evenly balanced seein' evil equally in each eye now
Maybe I'm the most thorough worker on the job to you
Or maybe I'm the one, who was plottin' to rob you
The fear of this beatdown, no women or no cash to floss
Makes most of y'all hustle ya ass off
From nothin to two mill', in five years I'll live to see it
Vanish in six months, with no tears believe it, I'll rock
Twenty-eight years before the Feds can lay a trace
See they plan is to erase me, just to replace me
Hmm like, your heart is warring with your brain
Emotional or reason, now which one do you obey?
Hmm like, somebody callin' you insane
When overwhelmed and blessed
Bursting tears of happiness
Yo, yo, I've seen relationships that's so sick
Life long friendships so cha-o-tic
Thug cat bangin his chick but won't kiss
Drinkin her spit, when coppin a fix for dope bliss
I got a knife and a bat, to bust your brain
Put the knife in your back once in the life, I was trifling like that
Like my man Troy, who lost his days
Shootin' dice on worldly ways and ended up in a early grave
Because once in a lifetime is rough
Twice in a lifetime you combat the ghosts of mistrust
Mentally cuffed, thrust by a cop thinkin he tough
You bust, Amadou Diallo is us, and what
Now I'm on my knees, beggin GOD PLEASE
Save me from the fires of hell
Let water water soul prevail, 'cause I can't take no more
Who's that knockin', at, my door?
Is that you, Pete from Cobb's Creek, who died in his sleep?
We was playin' for fun, now it's keeps
Like my man Mark I beat to death wrapped in a carpet
And left in the garbage, damn now that's cold-hearted
Ask Book he saw it, "Yo black I ain't seen shit!
Kids in the 6, they flip for nonsense"
Poke an icepick, smokin' that sniff, coke to preschool fool
And packin' a tool, fuck you Mom Dukes it's cool
You won't believe the things I've seen
Far beyond your wildest dreams
I've seen chaos and order reign supreme
I've seen the beauty of the universe so peaceful and serene
In seconds turn to violence and screams
Ooh like, your heart is warring with your brain
Emotional or reason, now which one do you obey?
Hmm like, somebody callin' you insane
When overwhelmed and blessed, bursting tears of happiness
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Things I've Seen Lyrics as written by Chenjerai Kumanyika Booker T. Jr. Tucker
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Spirit Music Group, Songtrust Ave
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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