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.
he slips in through the back door
and he helps himself to the patients medicine
and he likes to look important
and he always looks like he's important
and each tale that he tells of the lives that he's saved
is a spade full of dirt as he's digging his grave
and the deep blackened hollow he's patched with a badge
is the happiness he's never had
and he says, 'it's alright, they know me here.'
'it's alright, they know, they know me.'
his flames are yesterdays tinsel
and his belly's the sail that propels him onto the rocks
and you know that even the noble don quixote would
call him a mile away for a windmill
and each sunday that passes, he's rid of his sins
and he's ready to do them all over again
and god won't be mad, for the money he stole
he put some in the offering bowl
and he says, 'it's alright, they know me here.'
'it's alright, they know me, they know me.'
soon comes the moment that all souls await
just as sure as saint peter will padlock the gate
but deep in his wallets a shiny new coin
so he turns and he winks says:
'it's alright, they know me here.'
'it's alright, they know me, they know me.'
'it's alright, they know me here.'
'it's alright, they know me, they know me.'
the devil's for liars, put brands on the fires
and everyone burns with you're glowing red name on it
finally you've come to a place, where they know you well.
and he helps himself to the patients medicine
and he likes to look important
and he always looks like he's important
and each tale that he tells of the lives that he's saved
is a spade full of dirt as he's digging his grave
and the deep blackened hollow he's patched with a badge
is the happiness he's never had
and he says, 'it's alright, they know me here.'
'it's alright, they know, they know me.'
his flames are yesterdays tinsel
and his belly's the sail that propels him onto the rocks
and you know that even the noble don quixote would
call him a mile away for a windmill
and each sunday that passes, he's rid of his sins
and he's ready to do them all over again
and god won't be mad, for the money he stole
he put some in the offering bowl
and he says, 'it's alright, they know me here.'
'it's alright, they know me, they know me.'
soon comes the moment that all souls await
just as sure as saint peter will padlock the gate
but deep in his wallets a shiny new coin
so he turns and he winks says:
'it's alright, they know me here.'
'it's alright, they know me, they know me.'
'it's alright, they know me here.'
'it's alright, they know me, they know me.'
the devil's for liars, put brands on the fires
and everyone burns with you're glowing red name on it
finally you've come to a place, where they know you well.
Lyrics submitted by faust
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Don Quixote was a man who actually believed he was a knight. The most famouse scene is the scene in which he he aproaches a field with several windmills in it, although he doesn't see the windmills, he sees many giants, waving their arms. He tries to fight them without sucess.
However, it's not quite clear to me what that means in terms of the song. Maybe the person in this song is such a blatant imposter, that even someone as dilusional as Don Quixote can see through him.
Spot on, ThePokeDuck. That is what that line means. The song is about a self-righteous man who goes through life passing himself off as whatever he can only to serve himself. Making himself look better or getting what he wants. Stealing money or medicine and lying a bout who he is to sound important "The lives that he's saved". The chorus is not about suicide. When he dies he goes to heaven to be judged and Saint Peter lockes him out of the pearly gates. When he tries to bribe his way in he is cast to hell where he meets Satan, the only man to truly know him well. Satan has reserved a special place just for him.
While I'm not sure if Voltaire meant it to, the lyrics could easily apply to Judas.
The line about the "His bellys the sail that propels him to the rocks" fits one of the accounts of Judas death (falling onto rocks that cut open his stomach)
Atleast one of the Gospels mentions Judas as the treasurer, and alleges he stole money (Hence "God won't be mad for the money he stole, he put some in the offering bowl")
Plus it'd explain why he'd say "It's alright, they know me here" at the gates of Heaven.
I think in line 4 that it's "impotant" and not "important". But anyway...
his flames are yesterdays tinsel and his belly's the sail that propels him onto the rocks
Suicide...? Makes sense. After all, the chorus I think, is reffering to him being in Hell ("finally you've come to a place where they know you well").
and you know that even the noble don quixote would call him a mile away for a windmill
"Don Quixote" was (if I recall correctly) a book written a loooong time ago about an inept old man who tries to be a brave knight... I really don't understand the second line there, though... ><
Nooo, the line about the offering doesn't fit with Judas at all, actually.
It's obviously talking about a collection plate. He steals money, but he puts it in the collection bowl, thinking it will get him in God's good graces. Same with the "eEach Sunday..." line. That's not characteristic of Judas at all, you're looking for something that's not there.
thepokeduck and The-Dullahan nailed it.