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.
With empty minds and vacant stares
Our lifeless generation is drawn
Toward the illusions of endless offered bait
The same selective vision
Let boxcars carry millions to their cremation
Inaction masked by pseudo satisfaction
So many lives have burned away
"Another night with nothing to do" is an infection
When anger has no motive and force has no direction
A lack of self control invites every distraction
From the holocausts we'd see and a world in agony
1944 through 1998: children dead at Birkenau
Or Tibetans laid to waste
Excuses become our legacy
Postponing introspection through denial and self rejection
There is no inevitable oppresiion
We are digging our own graves
Afraid of what we feel so our lives remain the same
Uphold the status quo as if there's someone else to blame
Who will cast away our ashes after we've thrown
Ourselves into the flames?
"I can always do it tomorrow"
Well you might as well be dead today
This is my revolution
The epitaph of our collective grave will read that
"work never made us free"
Our strength maintained by never giving in
We have so much to lose so little time left to begin
For even when we're gone
The effects of our legacy will still remain
So we've got to break it
In time alone as the years go by what I feel can't be denied
When tension builds and nothing gets changed
I strive to understand and redefine this rage
And fight for a new legacy
Our lifeless generation is drawn
Toward the illusions of endless offered bait
The same selective vision
Let boxcars carry millions to their cremation
Inaction masked by pseudo satisfaction
So many lives have burned away
"Another night with nothing to do" is an infection
When anger has no motive and force has no direction
A lack of self control invites every distraction
From the holocausts we'd see and a world in agony
1944 through 1998: children dead at Birkenau
Or Tibetans laid to waste
Excuses become our legacy
Postponing introspection through denial and self rejection
There is no inevitable oppresiion
We are digging our own graves
Afraid of what we feel so our lives remain the same
Uphold the status quo as if there's someone else to blame
Who will cast away our ashes after we've thrown
Ourselves into the flames?
"I can always do it tomorrow"
Well you might as well be dead today
This is my revolution
The epitaph of our collective grave will read that
"work never made us free"
Our strength maintained by never giving in
We have so much to lose so little time left to begin
For even when we're gone
The effects of our legacy will still remain
So we've got to break it
In time alone as the years go by what I feel can't be denied
When tension builds and nothing gets changed
I strive to understand and redefine this rage
And fight for a new legacy
Lyrics submitted by rustedhope
Legacy Lyrics as written by Christopher Ward Dedrick Dp
Lyrics © Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers of Canada (SOCAN), Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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fucking amazing.
"the epitaph of our collective grave will read that "work never made us free""
"Work sets you free" was the welcome sign in one of the biggest extermination camps in europe, I think it was Aushwitz.