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.
Oh, the paper gods in the sky of gray
All the fools in town are ruling today
Today
Bow to the paper gods in a world that is paper thin (oh, the paper gods)
Fools in town are ruling now (in the sky of grey)
Bleeding from paper cuts, money for headshots (all the fools in town are ruling today)
Fools leading (today)
Who needs it?
"Hey, you're gonna want it all" the talking man declares
Go running to be first in line for what, nobody cares
The next thing you must have
Find peace with matching bag
It's nothing to be glad about or sad when you forget about it
And while the race is on the rats will run the street
The slaver in a sweatshop putting trainers on your feet
And walking through the rain, oblivious to pain
To shelter from the blame without a reason to complain about it
(Oh, oh, oh) don't complain about it
(Oh, oh, oh) don't complain about it
(Oh, oh, oh) forget about it
(Oh, oh, oh, oh)
Bow to the paper gods in a world that is paper thin (all the paper gods)
Fools in town are ruling now (all the fools in town)
Bleeding from paper cuts, money for head shots (are ruling today)
Fools leading
Who needs it?
She's staring out in underwear from your computer screen
It's all on sale for dirty cash, we can wash it clean
So hang it out online, confess and you'll feel fine
And if you got the time to spare we want to know which name you're wearing
And when the final curtain finally comes down
We'll all be in the party room, no wiser as to how
The total human race became a basket case
It's nothing to lose face about, it's really not our place to doubt it
Bow to the paper gods in a world that is paper thin (all the paper gods)
The fools in town are ruling now (all the fools in town)
Bleeding from paper cuts, money for head shots (are ruling today)
Fools leading
Who needs it?
(Paper walls falling down)
(Paper house, paper town)
(Paper gods falling down)
(Paper world just falling down)
(Paper walls falling down)
(Paper house, paper town)
(Paper gods falling down)
(Paper world just falling down)
(Falling down, falling down)
(Falling down, falling down)
(Falling down)
Bow to the paper gods in a world that is paper thin (all the paper gods)
Fools in town are ruling now (in the sky of grey, all the fools in town)
Bleeding from paper cuts, they go for the money shots (are leading today)
The fools leading
Who needs them?
All the paper gods in the sky of grey
All the fools in town are ruling today
Today
All the fools in town are ruling today
Today
Bow to the paper gods in a world that is paper thin (oh, the paper gods)
Fools in town are ruling now (in the sky of grey)
Bleeding from paper cuts, money for headshots (all the fools in town are ruling today)
Fools leading (today)
Who needs it?
"Hey, you're gonna want it all" the talking man declares
Go running to be first in line for what, nobody cares
The next thing you must have
Find peace with matching bag
It's nothing to be glad about or sad when you forget about it
And while the race is on the rats will run the street
The slaver in a sweatshop putting trainers on your feet
And walking through the rain, oblivious to pain
To shelter from the blame without a reason to complain about it
(Oh, oh, oh) don't complain about it
(Oh, oh, oh) don't complain about it
(Oh, oh, oh) forget about it
(Oh, oh, oh, oh)
Bow to the paper gods in a world that is paper thin (all the paper gods)
Fools in town are ruling now (all the fools in town)
Bleeding from paper cuts, money for head shots (are ruling today)
Fools leading
Who needs it?
She's staring out in underwear from your computer screen
It's all on sale for dirty cash, we can wash it clean
So hang it out online, confess and you'll feel fine
And if you got the time to spare we want to know which name you're wearing
And when the final curtain finally comes down
We'll all be in the party room, no wiser as to how
The total human race became a basket case
It's nothing to lose face about, it's really not our place to doubt it
Bow to the paper gods in a world that is paper thin (all the paper gods)
The fools in town are ruling now (all the fools in town)
Bleeding from paper cuts, money for head shots (are ruling today)
Fools leading
Who needs it?
(Paper walls falling down)
(Paper house, paper town)
(Paper gods falling down)
(Paper world just falling down)
(Paper walls falling down)
(Paper house, paper town)
(Paper gods falling down)
(Paper world just falling down)
(Falling down, falling down)
(Falling down, falling down)
(Falling down)
Bow to the paper gods in a world that is paper thin (all the paper gods)
Fools in town are ruling now (in the sky of grey, all the fools in town)
Bleeding from paper cuts, they go for the money shots (are leading today)
The fools leading
Who needs them?
All the paper gods in the sky of grey
All the fools in town are ruling today
Today
Lyrics submitted by Mellow_Harsher
Paper Gods Lyrics as written by John Taylor Ben Hudson Mcildowie
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Son Şansın - Şarkı Sözleri
Hayalperest
Hayalperest
This song seemingly tackles the methods of deception those who manipulate others use to get victims to follow their demands, as well as diverting attention away from important issues. They'll also use it as a means to convince people to hate or kill others by pretending acts of terrorism were committed by the enemy when the acts themselves were done by the masters of control to promote discrimination and hate. It also reinforces the idea that these manipulative forces operate in various locations, infiltrating everyday life without detection, and propagate any and everywhere.
In general, it highlights the danger of hidden agendas, manipulation, and distraction, serving as a critique of those who exploit chaos and confusion to control and gain power, depicting a cautionary tale against falling into their traps. It encourages us to question the narratives presented to us and remain vigilant against manipulation in various parts of society.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
This is what is happening in the Divided States of America. Simon,Nick, Roger and John prognosticated this last year and now we are screwed. Thank God, I live in San Francisco, Ca. Btw, they were awesome at Outside Lands. We are bowing to Paper Gods(money) and the fools in town(Trump/Pence, all the house and senate republicans) are going for the money shots. British claim: It's nothing to lose face about, it's really not our place to doubt it. This means, we can't doubt it or lose face here because it's America's f*(k up. :(
Basically I feel this song is about the love of money, greed, & materialism.