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.
Welcome to the abandoned land
Come on in child, take my hand
Here there's no work or play
Only one bill to pay
There's just five words to say
As you go down, down, down
You're gonna burn in hell
Oh, burn in hell
You can't believe all the things
I've done wrong in my life
Without even trying
I've lived on the edge of a knife
Well, I've played with fire
But I don't want to get myself burned
To thine own self be true
So I think that it's time for a turn
Before I burn in hell
Oh, burn in hell
Take a good look in your heart
Tell me what do you see?
It's black and it's dark
Now is that how you want it to be?
It's up to you
What you do will decide your own fate
Make your choice now
For tomorrow may be far too late
And then you'll burn in hell
Hear no evil, don't you
See no evil, don't you
(Oh, burn in hell) lay no evil down on me
You're gonna burn in hell
Speak no evil, don't you
Think no evil, don't you
(Oh, burn in hell)
Play with evil, 'cause I'm free
Hear no evil, don't you
See no evil, don't you
Lay no evil down on me
(You're gonna burn in hell)
Speak no evil, don't you
Think no evil, don't you
Play with evil, 'cause I'm free
(You're gonna burn in hell)
Hear no evil, don't you
See no evil, don't you
Lay no evil down on me
(You're gonna burn in hell)
Speak no evil, don't you
Think no evil, don't you
Play with evil, 'cause I'm free
(You're gonna burn in hell)
Hear no evil, don't you see no evil
(Oh, burn in hell) don't you lay no evil down on me
(You're gonna burn in hell)
Speak no evil, don't you think no evil
(Oh, burn in hell) don't you play with evil, 'cause I'm free
(You're gonna burn in hell)
Hear no evil, don't you see no evil
(Oh, burn in hell) don't you lay no evil down on me
Come on in child, take my hand
Here there's no work or play
Only one bill to pay
There's just five words to say
As you go down, down, down
You're gonna burn in hell
Oh, burn in hell
You can't believe all the things
I've done wrong in my life
Without even trying
I've lived on the edge of a knife
Well, I've played with fire
But I don't want to get myself burned
To thine own self be true
So I think that it's time for a turn
Before I burn in hell
Oh, burn in hell
Take a good look in your heart
Tell me what do you see?
It's black and it's dark
Now is that how you want it to be?
It's up to you
What you do will decide your own fate
Make your choice now
For tomorrow may be far too late
And then you'll burn in hell
Hear no evil, don't you
See no evil, don't you
(Oh, burn in hell) lay no evil down on me
You're gonna burn in hell
Speak no evil, don't you
Think no evil, don't you
(Oh, burn in hell)
Play with evil, 'cause I'm free
Hear no evil, don't you
See no evil, don't you
Lay no evil down on me
(You're gonna burn in hell)
Speak no evil, don't you
Think no evil, don't you
Play with evil, 'cause I'm free
(You're gonna burn in hell)
Hear no evil, don't you
See no evil, don't you
Lay no evil down on me
(You're gonna burn in hell)
Speak no evil, don't you
Think no evil, don't you
Play with evil, 'cause I'm free
(You're gonna burn in hell)
Hear no evil, don't you see no evil
(Oh, burn in hell) don't you lay no evil down on me
(You're gonna burn in hell)
Speak no evil, don't you think no evil
(Oh, burn in hell) don't you play with evil, 'cause I'm free
(You're gonna burn in hell)
Hear no evil, don't you see no evil
(Oh, burn in hell) don't you lay no evil down on me
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