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.
Yeah we say making changes
Starts in the little things you do
"Revolution begins at home"
But for most of us it ends there, too
We're doing something
We're making changes
Like changing the kind of crap we buy
We say it makes a difference
But that's just another lie
It used to be Us and Them
And You and Me
And now we can't reach
Our full potential
Without a common enemy
A real war to fight against
Instead of our petty disagreements
But how can I rationalize
My life during wartime lie
A call to action and a reaction
Taking our lives in our own hands
Instead of sitting around talking
About the same old stupid bands
But war is going on right now
And I'm not doing anything about it
Without a crowd I'm not so loud
I can't do anything by myself
But that's just another lie
Starts in the little things you do
"Revolution begins at home"
But for most of us it ends there, too
We're doing something
We're making changes
Like changing the kind of crap we buy
We say it makes a difference
But that's just another lie
It used to be Us and Them
And You and Me
And now we can't reach
Our full potential
Without a common enemy
A real war to fight against
Instead of our petty disagreements
But how can I rationalize
My life during wartime lie
A call to action and a reaction
Taking our lives in our own hands
Instead of sitting around talking
About the same old stupid bands
But war is going on right now
And I'm not doing anything about it
Without a crowd I'm not so loud
I can't do anything by myself
But that's just another lie
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Light Up The Sky
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Yo La Tengo
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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,
Head > Heels
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Page
Ed Sheeran
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I think this song is more about how underground/radical/punk activists and communities can't seem to find a way to make real progress on the things we all care about because we're divided by petty differences and really just waste our time in ways that aren't really that different from everyone else.