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.
"Big A Little A"
By Crass originally recorded
In 1980.
Big A little A bouncing be
The sytem might have got you but it won't get me
1 2 3 4
Chorus:
External control are you gonna let them get you?
Do you wanna be a prisorner in the boundaries they set you?
You say you want to be yourself
By christ do you think they'll let you?
The're out to get you get you get you get you get you get you
Hello, hello, hello, this is the Lord God, can you hear?
Hellfire and damnation's what I've got for you down there
On earth I have ambassadors. archbishop. vicar. pope
We'll blind you with morality, you'd best abandon any hope,
We're telling you you'be better pray 'cause you were born in sin
Right from the start we'll build a cell and then we'll lock you in
We sit in holy judgement dondemning those that stray
We offer our forgiveness, but first we'll make you pay
Chorus
Hello. hell. hell, now here's a message from your queen
As figurehead of the status qui I set the social scene
I'm most concerned about my people, I want to give them peace
So I'm making sure they stay in line with my army and police
My prisons and my mental homes have ever open doors
For those amongst my subhects who dare to ask for more
Unrulyness and disrepect are things I can't allow
So I'll see the peasants grovel in they frefuse to bow.
Chorus
Introducing the Prime Sinister, she's a mother to us all
Like the dtch boy's finger in the dyke her arse is in the wall
Holding back the future waiting for the seas to part
If Moses did it with his faith, she;ll do it with an army
Who at times of threatened crisis are certain to be there
Gaurding national heritage no matter what or where
Palaces for kings and gueens, amnsions for the rich
Protection for the walthy, defence of pribige
They've learnt the ropes in Ireland, engaged in cibil war
Fighting for the ruling classes in their battle agaisnt the poor
Great Britain? Future? bollocks, you'd better look begind
Round every other corner stands P.C. 1984
Guardian of the future, he'll implement the law
Big brothers system's always there with his beady eyes on you
From God to local bobby, in home and street and school
They've got you name and number while you've just got their rule
We've got to look for methods to undermine those powers
It's time to chage the tables. the future must be ours.
BE exactly who you want to be, do what you want to do
I am he and she is she but you're the only you
No one else has got your eyes, can see the things you see
It's up to you to change you life and my life's up to me
The problems that you suffer from are problems that you make
The shit we have to climb through is the shit we choose to take
If you don't like the life you life, change it now it's yours
Nothing has effect if you don't recognise the cause
If the programmes's not the one you want, get up, turn off the set
It's only you that can decide what life you're gonna get
If you don't like religion you can be the antichrist
If your tired of politics you can be an anarchist
But no on ever changed the church by pulling down the steeple
And you'll never change the syustem by bombing number ten
Systems just aren't made of bricks they're most made of people
You may send then into hiding, but they'll be back again
If you don't like the rules they make, regust to play their game
If you don't want to be a numver, don't give them your name
If you don't want to be caught out, refuse to hear their question
Silence is a virtue, use it for your own protection
They'll try to make you play their game,refuse to show your face
Be exactly who you want to be, do what you want to do
I am he and she is she but you're the only you.
By Crass originally recorded
In 1980.
Big A little A bouncing be
The sytem might have got you but it won't get me
1 2 3 4
Chorus:
External control are you gonna let them get you?
Do you wanna be a prisorner in the boundaries they set you?
You say you want to be yourself
By christ do you think they'll let you?
The're out to get you get you get you get you get you get you
Hello, hello, hello, this is the Lord God, can you hear?
Hellfire and damnation's what I've got for you down there
On earth I have ambassadors. archbishop. vicar. pope
We'll blind you with morality, you'd best abandon any hope,
We're telling you you'be better pray 'cause you were born in sin
Right from the start we'll build a cell and then we'll lock you in
We sit in holy judgement dondemning those that stray
We offer our forgiveness, but first we'll make you pay
Chorus
Hello. hell. hell, now here's a message from your queen
As figurehead of the status qui I set the social scene
I'm most concerned about my people, I want to give them peace
So I'm making sure they stay in line with my army and police
My prisons and my mental homes have ever open doors
For those amongst my subhects who dare to ask for more
Unrulyness and disrepect are things I can't allow
So I'll see the peasants grovel in they frefuse to bow.
Chorus
Introducing the Prime Sinister, she's a mother to us all
Like the dtch boy's finger in the dyke her arse is in the wall
Holding back the future waiting for the seas to part
If Moses did it with his faith, she;ll do it with an army
Who at times of threatened crisis are certain to be there
Gaurding national heritage no matter what or where
Palaces for kings and gueens, amnsions for the rich
Protection for the walthy, defence of pribige
They've learnt the ropes in Ireland, engaged in cibil war
Fighting for the ruling classes in their battle agaisnt the poor
Great Britain? Future? bollocks, you'd better look begind
Round every other corner stands P.C. 1984
Guardian of the future, he'll implement the law
Big brothers system's always there with his beady eyes on you
From God to local bobby, in home and street and school
They've got you name and number while you've just got their rule
We've got to look for methods to undermine those powers
It's time to chage the tables. the future must be ours.
BE exactly who you want to be, do what you want to do
I am he and she is she but you're the only you
No one else has got your eyes, can see the things you see
It's up to you to change you life and my life's up to me
The problems that you suffer from are problems that you make
The shit we have to climb through is the shit we choose to take
If you don't like the life you life, change it now it's yours
Nothing has effect if you don't recognise the cause
If the programmes's not the one you want, get up, turn off the set
It's only you that can decide what life you're gonna get
If you don't like religion you can be the antichrist
If your tired of politics you can be an anarchist
But no on ever changed the church by pulling down the steeple
And you'll never change the syustem by bombing number ten
Systems just aren't made of bricks they're most made of people
You may send then into hiding, but they'll be back again
If you don't like the rules they make, regust to play their game
If you don't want to be a numver, don't give them your name
If you don't want to be caught out, refuse to hear their question
Silence is a virtue, use it for your own protection
They'll try to make you play their game,refuse to show your face
Be exactly who you want to be, do what you want to do
I am he and she is she but you're the only you.
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This is my favorite song by Crass. It's all about being yourself in the face of society. It's about living as yourself without hurting anyone else, even though they try to hurt you. Absolutely love this song.