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.
It's gonna take some action and some reaction from...
....from me and you
'Cause you gotta stand up and you gotta make demands to...
....obtain the truth
Time after time there are so many secret...
....decisions made
Where we have no choice and no representation...
....and have to say
It's in front of your face (It's in front of your eyes)
But you must open your eyes, if you're to see the truth
They try to tell us as a free we...
....run this country
But nobody wants to talk about the CIA files...
....files we can't see
"NATIONAL SECURITY" concerns a whole country but...
....we have no say
Our "security" blamed for our restricted freedom a game...
....the government plays
It's in front of your face
(It's in front of your eyes)
But you must open your eyes,
If you're to see the truth
When there are secrets that we don't know
Then the ideal they pass as freedom in this country is a fake
When we are left with no right or no voice to choose
Then we're not living in a free and democratic state
It's in front of your face
(It's in front of your eyes)
But you must open your eyes,
if you're to see the truth
It's what you don't know
....from me and you
'Cause you gotta stand up and you gotta make demands to...
....obtain the truth
Time after time there are so many secret...
....decisions made
Where we have no choice and no representation...
....and have to say
It's in front of your face (It's in front of your eyes)
But you must open your eyes, if you're to see the truth
They try to tell us as a free we...
....run this country
But nobody wants to talk about the CIA files...
....files we can't see
"NATIONAL SECURITY" concerns a whole country but...
....we have no say
Our "security" blamed for our restricted freedom a game...
....the government plays
It's in front of your face
(It's in front of your eyes)
But you must open your eyes,
If you're to see the truth
When there are secrets that we don't know
Then the ideal they pass as freedom in this country is a fake
When we are left with no right or no voice to choose
Then we're not living in a free and democratic state
It's in front of your face
(It's in front of your eyes)
But you must open your eyes,
if you're to see the truth
It's what you don't know
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Well, I think that we have a right to all the information as long as releasing it doesn't harm any one in any way. i.e. We we're not supposed to have the information and if the information gets out that would mean we would be putting his life in danger.