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.
Get a gun to protect yourself from someone else with a gun
Being armed up to the teeth that means you don't have to run
Better safe than being sorry, better alive than being dead
Better him than me you say as you aim your gun at his head
You live your life at gunpoint don't be scared be prepared
It's peace you say that you fight for but it's war you declare
Take a life to save a life you call that living in peace?
It takes more than a piece of metal for the peace to increase
Are you man enough to hold a gun?
Are you man enough to turn your back and run?
Are you man enough to take a life?
Are you man enough to make one?
With your finger stuck on the trigger you're one hell of a man
But you won't be much of a macho when the blood's on your hands
If you live by the gun you'll die by the gun I promise you that
And you ain't got a goddamn thing if all you've got is a gat
History repeats itself but still we don't pull the brakes
What will it take for us to learn to learn from our own mistakes
I'd rather die defending my own right to never bare arms
Than live pretending a gun will keep me safe from bodily harm
Chorus
If sacrifice is the price for freedom then tell me what's the use
killing someone to prove that killing is wrong still ain't no excuse
how can you believe that death will make the suffering cease
prepare to sacrifice your life once the bullets released
Chorus
Being armed up to the teeth that means you don't have to run
Better safe than being sorry, better alive than being dead
Better him than me you say as you aim your gun at his head
You live your life at gunpoint don't be scared be prepared
It's peace you say that you fight for but it's war you declare
Take a life to save a life you call that living in peace?
It takes more than a piece of metal for the peace to increase
Are you man enough to hold a gun?
Are you man enough to turn your back and run?
Are you man enough to take a life?
Are you man enough to make one?
With your finger stuck on the trigger you're one hell of a man
But you won't be much of a macho when the blood's on your hands
If you live by the gun you'll die by the gun I promise you that
And you ain't got a goddamn thing if all you've got is a gat
History repeats itself but still we don't pull the brakes
What will it take for us to learn to learn from our own mistakes
I'd rather die defending my own right to never bare arms
Than live pretending a gun will keep me safe from bodily harm
Chorus
If sacrifice is the price for freedom then tell me what's the use
killing someone to prove that killing is wrong still ain't no excuse
how can you believe that death will make the suffering cease
prepare to sacrifice your life once the bullets released
Chorus
Lyrics submitted by SongMeanings
Are You Man Enough Lyrics as written by Erlend Ottem Bard Sverre Torstensen
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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