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.
[Aaron:]
A lot of good advice
Nobody's keeping for themselves
If you're playing by the rules
You'll be a trophy on a shelf
Give in to the ordinary run of things
Like it is meant to be
There's nothing left of me
[Scientist I:]
Praying for salvation, floating with the tide
The very first temptation
drags you to the other side
You learn to walk and run
You fly until you fall as far as I can see
[Aaron:] The future ahead was not
what it used to be
[Scientist I:] Blessed was the darkness
veiling hypocrisy
[Scientist I:] Babylon is burning, shining from afar
Babylon is burning
[Aaron:] From sunset to sunrise
[Scientist I:] Babylon is burning
And you're glowing like a fiery star
And no one can tell if we've been for real
Babylon is burning
Babylon is burning
They say it's coming by the night
to engraft into the brain
What a scientific tongue won't recall
or even phrase
It's crawling up your spine
to breed a wicked freak of nature
We will be a new society
[Aaron:] Headless congregation
a vortex needing more
[Scientist I:] The road to good intentions
is evil to the core
[Aaron:] The devil and the deep blue sea
are waiting dide by side for me
The sweet scent of poison
hazing the dread away
This side of the moon I'll confess to... another day
[Scientist I:] Babylon is burning, shining from afar
[Aaron:] Babylon is burning
From sunset to sunrise
[Scientist I:]
Babylon is burning and you're glowing like a fiery star
And no one can tell if we've been for real
Yeah
[Scientist I:]
Ever since I can remember
I've been shooting up that road with a dream
I saw gold at the end of the rainbow
I was given an idea of what life should be
What life should be
[Aaron:]
Ain't there a light above the shadow
Ain't there blood in the machine
Ain't there flesh they'd been misleading
Ain't there a longing soul within?
[Scientist I:]
I've seen believers on the wayside
And I'm afraid to say, I think just like you
That failed to pretend
They could cope with what they'd find
When they didn't have a clue - just like you
Babylon is burning, shining from afar
[Aaron:] Babylon is burning
From sunset to sunrise
[Scientist I:] Babylon is burning
and you're glowing like a fiery star
And no one can tell
if we've been for real, oh
Babylon is burning, shining from afar
[Aaron:] Babylon is burning
From sunset to sunrise
[Scientist I:] Babylon is burning
and you're glowing like a fiery star
And no one can tell
if we've been for real
A lot of good advice
Nobody's keeping for themselves
If you're playing by the rules
You'll be a trophy on a shelf
Give in to the ordinary run of things
Like it is meant to be
There's nothing left of me
[Scientist I:]
Praying for salvation, floating with the tide
The very first temptation
drags you to the other side
You learn to walk and run
You fly until you fall as far as I can see
[Aaron:] The future ahead was not
what it used to be
[Scientist I:] Blessed was the darkness
veiling hypocrisy
[Scientist I:] Babylon is burning, shining from afar
Babylon is burning
[Aaron:] From sunset to sunrise
[Scientist I:] Babylon is burning
And you're glowing like a fiery star
And no one can tell if we've been for real
Babylon is burning
Babylon is burning
They say it's coming by the night
to engraft into the brain
What a scientific tongue won't recall
or even phrase
It's crawling up your spine
to breed a wicked freak of nature
We will be a new society
[Aaron:] Headless congregation
a vortex needing more
[Scientist I:] The road to good intentions
is evil to the core
[Aaron:] The devil and the deep blue sea
are waiting dide by side for me
The sweet scent of poison
hazing the dread away
This side of the moon I'll confess to... another day
[Scientist I:] Babylon is burning, shining from afar
[Aaron:] Babylon is burning
From sunset to sunrise
[Scientist I:]
Babylon is burning and you're glowing like a fiery star
And no one can tell if we've been for real
Yeah
[Scientist I:]
Ever since I can remember
I've been shooting up that road with a dream
I saw gold at the end of the rainbow
I was given an idea of what life should be
What life should be
[Aaron:]
Ain't there a light above the shadow
Ain't there blood in the machine
Ain't there flesh they'd been misleading
Ain't there a longing soul within?
[Scientist I:]
I've seen believers on the wayside
And I'm afraid to say, I think just like you
That failed to pretend
They could cope with what they'd find
When they didn't have a clue - just like you
Babylon is burning, shining from afar
[Aaron:] Babylon is burning
From sunset to sunrise
[Scientist I:] Babylon is burning
and you're glowing like a fiery star
And no one can tell
if we've been for real, oh
Babylon is burning, shining from afar
[Aaron:] Babylon is burning
From sunset to sunrise
[Scientist I:] Babylon is burning
and you're glowing like a fiery star
And no one can tell
if we've been for real
Lyrics submitted by 425
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