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.
One Had vision
One came bringing its doom
One saw napalm
One heard the man in the moon
We were children of promise
We were heirs to their dreams
Tell me, why then is the hand slow
And the dog bites, well, I don't know
But the sky will fall
And heads will roll
And it's all that we can do
To wait for the healing
Hungry hearted reason coming of age
Running headlong into the the latest rage
Always reaching within us
Claiming the answers are there
Tell me, why then is the hand slow
And the dog bites, well, I don't know
But the sky will fall
And heads will roll
And it's all that we can do
To wait for the healing
For to carry on
For to stand when all is said and done
In the shadow of the rising sun
Longing, waiting for the healing
We are children of promise
We are heirs to their dreams
Tell me, why then is the hand slow
And the dog bites, well, I don't know
But the sky will fall
And heads will roll
And it's all that we can do
To wait for the healing
For to carry on
For to stand when all is said and done
In the shadow of the rising sun
Longing, waiting for the healing
One came bringing its doom
One saw napalm
One heard the man in the moon
We were children of promise
We were heirs to their dreams
Tell me, why then is the hand slow
And the dog bites, well, I don't know
But the sky will fall
And heads will roll
And it's all that we can do
To wait for the healing
Hungry hearted reason coming of age
Running headlong into the the latest rage
Always reaching within us
Claiming the answers are there
Tell me, why then is the hand slow
And the dog bites, well, I don't know
But the sky will fall
And heads will roll
And it's all that we can do
To wait for the healing
For to carry on
For to stand when all is said and done
In the shadow of the rising sun
Longing, waiting for the healing
We are children of promise
We are heirs to their dreams
Tell me, why then is the hand slow
And the dog bites, well, I don't know
But the sky will fall
And heads will roll
And it's all that we can do
To wait for the healing
For to carry on
For to stand when all is said and done
In the shadow of the rising sun
Longing, waiting for the healing
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