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.
Voices are calling from somewhere below
Melting on the eastern shore
Rain is falling down on me,
Been waiting for eternity...
I'll be there!
Freedom for us all!
And I wonder why, why my heart still yearns
And I wonder why, why the earth still turns
And I wonder why, why the sky turns black
Still I wonder why, but there is no turning back
For all eternity, for all the world to see
We're riding high across the wind
And when the storm begins, to wash away all sins
We'll find a place where we'll begin
There's something wrong with the world today,
Only the people that are fighting for...
...A better place in the world today,
They don't believe that they gone too far,
...They're falling down.
By moonlight there's way...for rebellion
Here, the world are gone astray...revolution
Now, the time has come to pray...halleluja
Deep, inside our minds we wait...for rebellion -
Here in dreamland we will not obey the masters
...And the earth still turns but I'm on my way,
He is on the way, as my heart still yearns
...I'm on my way, now he is on the way,
And I cry for more
Yes I'm on my way, now he's on the way,
Gonna find the secret wall
I have seen the secret dreams
Of those who know eternity
And makes me feel like a shadow sneaking in
In my sleep I'm searching for a way to find
The open do leading me to where it all begins
There's nothing wrong with the world today...
There's something wrong with the world today,
Only the people that are fighting for...
...A better place in the world today,
They don't believe that they gone too far,
...They're falling down.
By moonlight there's way...for rebellion
Here, the world are gone astray...revolution
Now, the time has come to pray...halleluja
Deep, inside our minds we wait...for rebellion -
Here in dreamland we will not obey the masters
[SOLO: Kai]
Now I'm riding through the air
Going to where no one dares
On the way I cross the line forevermore.
For once in life, I do not care
Nothing matters, now I dare
On the ride I'll cross the line
Forever to be free
[SOLO: Dirk]
I have no fear, Rebellion is here!
Melting on the eastern shore
Rain is falling down on me,
Been waiting for eternity...
I'll be there!
Freedom for us all!
And I wonder why, why my heart still yearns
And I wonder why, why the earth still turns
And I wonder why, why the sky turns black
Still I wonder why, but there is no turning back
For all eternity, for all the world to see
We're riding high across the wind
And when the storm begins, to wash away all sins
We'll find a place where we'll begin
There's something wrong with the world today,
Only the people that are fighting for...
...A better place in the world today,
They don't believe that they gone too far,
...They're falling down.
By moonlight there's way...for rebellion
Here, the world are gone astray...revolution
Now, the time has come to pray...halleluja
Deep, inside our minds we wait...for rebellion -
Here in dreamland we will not obey the masters
...And the earth still turns but I'm on my way,
He is on the way, as my heart still yearns
...I'm on my way, now he is on the way,
And I cry for more
Yes I'm on my way, now he's on the way,
Gonna find the secret wall
I have seen the secret dreams
Of those who know eternity
And makes me feel like a shadow sneaking in
In my sleep I'm searching for a way to find
The open do leading me to where it all begins
There's nothing wrong with the world today...
There's something wrong with the world today,
Only the people that are fighting for...
...A better place in the world today,
They don't believe that they gone too far,
...They're falling down.
By moonlight there's way...for rebellion
Here, the world are gone astray...revolution
Now, the time has come to pray...halleluja
Deep, inside our minds we wait...for rebellion -
Here in dreamland we will not obey the masters
[SOLO: Kai]
Now I'm riding through the air
Going to where no one dares
On the way I cross the line forevermore.
For once in life, I do not care
Nothing matters, now I dare
On the ride I'll cross the line
Forever to be free
[SOLO: Dirk]
I have no fear, Rebellion is here!
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This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
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