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.
I testify, this is not a secret meant to keep
Your love, like fire, spreading from my heart straight to my feet
And when I was dead, you gave me new life
I'm lifting you up with all of my might
I don't care who's to the left, to the right
You're all that's on my mind
Don't really care what they say, what they think
I feel so alive
I'm unashamed, I'm wide awake
Not gonna hide, can't deny you're my everything
Here's to the free who still believe
You're the star of the show that we came to see
With all my heart, all my life, gonna live it loud
I wanna make, make you famous
Light up the night, let it shine, never burning out
I wanna make, make you famous
Fame, fame, fame fame, famous
Fame, fame, fame fame, famous
Neon lights, my eyes are blinded by your glow
Yeah, you are mine, I know who I am cause of who I know
I'm no longer dead, you gave me new life
I'm lifting you up with all of my might
I don't care who's to the left, to the right
You're all that's on my mind
Don't really care what they say, what they think
I feel so alive
I'm unashamed, I'm wide awake
Not gonna hide, can't deny you're my everything
Here's to the free who still believe
You're the star of the show that we came to see
With all my heart, all my life, gonna live it loud
I wanna make, make you famous
Light up the night, let it shine, never burning out
I wanna make, make you famous
Shh, shh, you wanna know a secret?
Shh, shh, cause I can't keep it
Shh, shh, you wanna know a secret?
Shh, shh, cause I can't keep it
Take you worldwide, make, make you famous
'Cross the headlines, make, make you famous
From NYC to Texas to the coast of LA
From way down under, under London
They'll remember your name
I'm unashamed, I'm wide awake
Not gonna hide, can't deny you're my everything
Here's to the free who still believe
You're the star of the show that we came to see
With all my heart, all my life, gonna live it loud
I wanna make, make you famous
Light up the night, let it shine, never burning out
I wanna make, make you famous
With all my heart, all my life, gonna live it loud
Fame, fame, fame fame, famous
Light up the night, let it shine, never burning out
Fame, fame, fame fame, famous
Your love, like fire, spreading from my heart straight to my feet
And when I was dead, you gave me new life
I'm lifting you up with all of my might
I don't care who's to the left, to the right
You're all that's on my mind
Don't really care what they say, what they think
I feel so alive
I'm unashamed, I'm wide awake
Not gonna hide, can't deny you're my everything
Here's to the free who still believe
You're the star of the show that we came to see
With all my heart, all my life, gonna live it loud
I wanna make, make you famous
Light up the night, let it shine, never burning out
I wanna make, make you famous
Fame, fame, fame fame, famous
Fame, fame, fame fame, famous
Neon lights, my eyes are blinded by your glow
Yeah, you are mine, I know who I am cause of who I know
I'm no longer dead, you gave me new life
I'm lifting you up with all of my might
I don't care who's to the left, to the right
You're all that's on my mind
Don't really care what they say, what they think
I feel so alive
I'm unashamed, I'm wide awake
Not gonna hide, can't deny you're my everything
Here's to the free who still believe
You're the star of the show that we came to see
With all my heart, all my life, gonna live it loud
I wanna make, make you famous
Light up the night, let it shine, never burning out
I wanna make, make you famous
Shh, shh, you wanna know a secret?
Shh, shh, cause I can't keep it
Shh, shh, you wanna know a secret?
Shh, shh, cause I can't keep it
Take you worldwide, make, make you famous
'Cross the headlines, make, make you famous
From NYC to Texas to the coast of LA
From way down under, under London
They'll remember your name
I'm unashamed, I'm wide awake
Not gonna hide, can't deny you're my everything
Here's to the free who still believe
You're the star of the show that we came to see
With all my heart, all my life, gonna live it loud
I wanna make, make you famous
Light up the night, let it shine, never burning out
I wanna make, make you famous
With all my heart, all my life, gonna live it loud
Fame, fame, fame fame, famous
Light up the night, let it shine, never burning out
Fame, fame, fame fame, famous
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I just don't get this song! He seems to be saying that he wants to 'give all the glory to God'. - That he wants to make God famous, but on tracks like Saviours of the World, he also says that 'we are the saviours...'! I'm confused John! I also feel like there could be so many more overt references to God on the album, but the lyrics are kept quite vague instead of being direct in talking about God. Anyone else have any thoughts on this one?
@Zargoth I read in an interview that John kept the lyrics a bit more vague on purpose and he's said that he wanted to have more fun with "Unleashed" than when he was writing "Rise"<br /> <br /> Not sure what the deal with "saviors of the world" is either