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 am a nightmare walking
Psychopath talking
King of my jungle
Just a gangster stalking
Living life like a firecracker
Quick is my fuse
Then dead as a deathpack
The colors I choose
Red or blue cause a blood
It just don't matter
Sucker die for your life
With my shotgun scatters
We gangs of C.A. will never die
Just multiply
Colors
You don't know me, fool
You disown me
I don't need your assistance
Social persistence
Any problem I got
I just put my fist in
My life is violent
But violent is life
Peace is a dream
Reality is a knife
My colors my honour
My colors my all
With my colors upon me
One soldier stands tall
Tell me what have you left me
What have I got
Last night in cold blood
My boy got shot
My home got jacked
My mother's on crack
My sister can't work
'Cause her arms show trax
Violence insanity
Live in profanity
Then some punk claimin
They understanding me
Give me a break
What world do you live in
Death is my sect
Guess my religion
Colors
My pants are sagging
Fucked up hair
Suckers stare
But I don't care
My game ain't knowledge
My game's fear
I've no remorse
Motherfucker beware
But my true mission
Is just revenge
You ain't in my sect
You ain't my friend
Wear the wrong color
Your life could end
Homocides my favorite venge
Colors
I'll just walk like a giant
Police defiant
You'll say to stop
But I'll say that I can't
My gangs my family
It's all that I have
I'm a star
On the walls is my autograph
You don't like it
So you know where you can go
'Cause the streets are my stage
And terror's my show
Psyco-analize - tried
Diagnising me wise
It wasn't your brother
That brutally died
But it was mine
So let me define
My territory
Don't cross the line
Don't try to act crazy
'Cause the shit don't thank me
You can be read like a punk
It wouldn't amaze me
'Cause my colors death
Thou we all want peace
But our war won't end
'Til all will cease
Colors
Psychopath talking
King of my jungle
Just a gangster stalking
Living life like a firecracker
Quick is my fuse
Then dead as a deathpack
The colors I choose
Red or blue cause a blood
It just don't matter
Sucker die for your life
With my shotgun scatters
We gangs of C.A. will never die
Just multiply
Colors
You don't know me, fool
You disown me
I don't need your assistance
Social persistence
Any problem I got
I just put my fist in
My life is violent
But violent is life
Peace is a dream
Reality is a knife
My colors my honour
My colors my all
With my colors upon me
One soldier stands tall
Tell me what have you left me
What have I got
Last night in cold blood
My boy got shot
My home got jacked
My mother's on crack
My sister can't work
'Cause her arms show trax
Violence insanity
Live in profanity
Then some punk claimin
They understanding me
Give me a break
What world do you live in
Death is my sect
Guess my religion
Colors
My pants are sagging
Fucked up hair
Suckers stare
But I don't care
My game ain't knowledge
My game's fear
I've no remorse
Motherfucker beware
But my true mission
Is just revenge
You ain't in my sect
You ain't my friend
Wear the wrong color
Your life could end
Homocides my favorite venge
Colors
I'll just walk like a giant
Police defiant
You'll say to stop
But I'll say that I can't
My gangs my family
It's all that I have
I'm a star
On the walls is my autograph
You don't like it
So you know where you can go
'Cause the streets are my stage
And terror's my show
Psyco-analize - tried
Diagnising me wise
It wasn't your brother
That brutally died
But it was mine
So let me define
My territory
Don't cross the line
Don't try to act crazy
'Cause the shit don't thank me
You can be read like a punk
It wouldn't amaze me
'Cause my colors death
Thou we all want peace
But our war won't end
'Til all will cease
Colors
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
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