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.
Consider the fact that
Maybe you've been brainwashed too
Many will tell you otherwise
I bet you trust your bank
Just wait until it tanks
Your parents had it planned
We're almost just like them?
Fun Racist professional sports
Management gets the real rewards
Multinational owned evening news
If we believe we're fools
You watch 4.5 hours of TV a day
And we should listen to what you have to say?
Opinions on life and the world
You eat at the Hard Rock abroad and you disrespect your girl
Sexism so ingrained
That women get the blame
Is it smug middle class satisfaction you peddle?
Better hope your car don't breakdown in the ghetto
Rich companies lobby best
Use their products, prepare to lose a breast
Why your sick mother's health insurance got
"Accidentally" canceled is no mystery
Somebody's paying the government a lot
To have access to everybody's medical history
Greedy banks bought all the farms
Chemical food, aren't our lives charmed
Teenagers baited, their money spent
With credit cards at twenty percent
Too broke to worry about the loan
Their funkin turning off your phone
And politics, a fuckin' joke
Right and left, they're both a hoax
Just hope the "international" markets don't crash
Rock 'n' Roll! Some truth? Alas!
Careerist cowards sucking ass
Is real investigative reporting dead?
Of course, but keep watching your CNN
The glitz, the glamor, all jokes aside
If a sponsor pays enough,
They'd turn a blind eye on 3rd world genocide
"Bro, don't get heavy, the bills are paid!"
Twice a week (missionary style) we all get laid
Middle management goes first, your out on your ass
Most ignorance is bred at home
Good Christian families? Then why condone
Petty hatred of anything different or new
The fat girl hung herself in June
No love at home, they thought she was strong
Her classmates made her up her own song
"Piggy Peggy ate everyone's pie"
The kids moved on, one teacher cried
The kids switched targets the week after she died
Well? human nature won't change much
Unless we make a shameful bunch
Of those we see so glaringly
Who show hate, ignorance and hypocrisy
Don't be a coward, make a stand!
Get in their face, act like a ham
Let people know it's not PC
To be greedy and judgmental under the guise of religion and democracy
Get loud and stand up every time
If you even give a fuck about mankind
'cause if human nature don't evolve soon
Don't kid yourself, you're fucking doomed
Don't run away from change and growth
Let's start right now, "I take the oath!"
But first accept one simple truth
That maybe we've been brainwashed too
So cynical, so hip, so full of shit
They told us to shut the fuck up and write another hit
Maybe you've been brainwashed too
Many will tell you otherwise
I bet you trust your bank
Just wait until it tanks
Your parents had it planned
We're almost just like them?
Fun Racist professional sports
Management gets the real rewards
Multinational owned evening news
If we believe we're fools
You watch 4.5 hours of TV a day
And we should listen to what you have to say?
Opinions on life and the world
You eat at the Hard Rock abroad and you disrespect your girl
Sexism so ingrained
That women get the blame
Is it smug middle class satisfaction you peddle?
Better hope your car don't breakdown in the ghetto
Rich companies lobby best
Use their products, prepare to lose a breast
Why your sick mother's health insurance got
"Accidentally" canceled is no mystery
Somebody's paying the government a lot
To have access to everybody's medical history
Greedy banks bought all the farms
Chemical food, aren't our lives charmed
Teenagers baited, their money spent
With credit cards at twenty percent
Too broke to worry about the loan
Their funkin turning off your phone
And politics, a fuckin' joke
Right and left, they're both a hoax
Just hope the "international" markets don't crash
Rock 'n' Roll! Some truth? Alas!
Careerist cowards sucking ass
Is real investigative reporting dead?
Of course, but keep watching your CNN
The glitz, the glamor, all jokes aside
If a sponsor pays enough,
They'd turn a blind eye on 3rd world genocide
"Bro, don't get heavy, the bills are paid!"
Twice a week (missionary style) we all get laid
Middle management goes first, your out on your ass
Most ignorance is bred at home
Good Christian families? Then why condone
Petty hatred of anything different or new
The fat girl hung herself in June
No love at home, they thought she was strong
Her classmates made her up her own song
"Piggy Peggy ate everyone's pie"
The kids moved on, one teacher cried
The kids switched targets the week after she died
Well? human nature won't change much
Unless we make a shameful bunch
Of those we see so glaringly
Who show hate, ignorance and hypocrisy
Don't be a coward, make a stand!
Get in their face, act like a ham
Let people know it's not PC
To be greedy and judgmental under the guise of religion and democracy
Get loud and stand up every time
If you even give a fuck about mankind
'cause if human nature don't evolve soon
Don't kid yourself, you're fucking doomed
Don't run away from change and growth
Let's start right now, "I take the oath!"
But first accept one simple truth
That maybe we've been brainwashed too
So cynical, so hip, so full of shit
They told us to shut the fuck up and write another hit
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i have no idea what the real words are in this song...does anyone know?