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.
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Dear Enemies and Friends,
Why are we all so alone here? All we need is a little more hope, a little more joy.
All we need is a little more light, a little less weight, a little more freedom. If we were an army, and if we believed that we were an army, and we believed that everyone was scared like little lost children in their grown up clothes and poses;
so we ended up alone here floating through long wasted days, or great tribulations..
While everything felt wrong.
Good words, strong words, words that could've moved mountains. Words that no one ever said.
We were all waiting to hear those words and no one ever said them. And the tactics never hatched.
And the plans were never mapped.
And we all learned not to believe.
And strange lonesome monsters loafed through the hills wondering why..
And it is best to never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever wonder why. So tangle -- oh tangle us up in bright red ribbons!
Let's have a parade. It's been so long since we had a parade, so let's have a parade! Let's invite all our friends.
And all our friends' friends! Let's promenade down the boulevards with terrific pride and light in our eyes: twelve feet tall and staggering..
Sick with joy with the angels there and light in our eyes.
Brothers and Sisters, hope still waits in the wings like a bitter spinster; impatient, lonely and shivering, waiting to build her glorious fires. it's because of our plans man; our beautiful ridiculous plans. Let's launch them like careening jetplanes.
Let's crash all our planes in the river. Let's build strange and radiant machines at this Jericho waiting to fall.
Dear Enemies and Friends,
Why are we all so alone here? All we need is a little more hope, a little more joy.
All we need is a little more light, a little less weight, a little more freedom. If we were an army, and if we believed that we were an army, and we believed that everyone was scared like little lost children in their grown up clothes and poses;
so we ended up alone here floating through long wasted days, or great tribulations..
While everything felt wrong.
Good words, strong words, words that could've moved mountains. Words that no one ever said.
We were all waiting to hear those words and no one ever said them. And the tactics never hatched.
And the plans were never mapped.
And we all learned not to believe.
And strange lonesome monsters loafed through the hills wondering why..
And it is best to never ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever wonder why. So tangle -- oh tangle us up in bright red ribbons!
Let's have a parade. It's been so long since we had a parade, so let's have a parade! Let's invite all our friends.
And all our friends' friends! Let's promenade down the boulevards with terrific pride and light in our eyes: twelve feet tall and staggering..
Sick with joy with the angels there and light in our eyes.
Brothers and Sisters, hope still waits in the wings like a bitter spinster; impatient, lonely and shivering, waiting to build her glorious fires. it's because of our plans man; our beautiful ridiculous plans. Let's launch them like careening jetplanes.
Let's crash all our planes in the river. Let's build strange and radiant machines at this Jericho waiting to fall.
Lyrics submitted by peachsnowfalling, edited by emirparkreiner, odsock
Built Then Burnt (Hurrah! hurrah!) Lyrics as written by
Lyrics © ROUGH TRADE PUBLISHING
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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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Great version of a great song,
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I think that the intro, said by a child, is meant to be a rallying call not only to anarchists but others in the radical political scene (i.e. socialists, communists). It's saying that there has been no action for a long time, and at the moment any action would push towards a better tomorrow.