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.
Everyday they commit crimes of dishonesty.
Make no mistake we will set it straight.
Medication diagnosed but not defined, their antidotes render us blind.
Cold-blooded lies (Made from millions).
Strike from behind (Backed by corporate billions).
Where the weak have died you watch as the strong survive.
Dead-alive (You're feeling paralyzed).
(Killionaire)
You're feeling paralyzed bitten by a cottonmouth.
Year by year they inject chems of toxicity, at our expense, how does it make sense? Strangulation as they inject the frail, prescription for a coffin nail.
Cold-blooded lies (Made from millions).
Strike from behind (Backed by corporate billions).
Venom now takes hold.
Pharmaceutic evil.
Broken vows, bitten by a cottonmouth.
Your life is under attack
A helpless victim of the viper in back
How could this happen to you?
A choking body quickly turning so blue
Your life is under attack
A helpless victim of the viper in back
You've been falsely led to your deathbed.
Butchered, betrayed and left for dead.
Overdosing a nation.
Force-fed lies that give us hope.
This is the fucking end.
They don't deserve to live.
They will rest in pieces.
This is the fucking end
Make no mistake we will set it straight.
Medication diagnosed but not defined, their antidotes render us blind.
Cold-blooded lies (Made from millions).
Strike from behind (Backed by corporate billions).
Where the weak have died you watch as the strong survive.
Dead-alive (You're feeling paralyzed).
(Killionaire)
You're feeling paralyzed bitten by a cottonmouth.
Year by year they inject chems of toxicity, at our expense, how does it make sense? Strangulation as they inject the frail, prescription for a coffin nail.
Cold-blooded lies (Made from millions).
Strike from behind (Backed by corporate billions).
Venom now takes hold.
Pharmaceutic evil.
Broken vows, bitten by a cottonmouth.
Your life is under attack
A helpless victim of the viper in back
How could this happen to you?
A choking body quickly turning so blue
Your life is under attack
A helpless victim of the viper in back
You've been falsely led to your deathbed.
Butchered, betrayed and left for dead.
Overdosing a nation.
Force-fed lies that give us hope.
This is the fucking end.
They don't deserve to live.
They will rest in pieces.
This is the fucking end
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Could this possible be about the pharmaceutical companies and their corruption (or power over governments)?
Could also be that we are now "accepting" of them without any question, for our detriment.
Being an Aussie band I thought they would have picked an Aussie snake as the metaphor ... although I suppose the pharmaceutical ethical issues are more prominent in the US market due to the health care set up.