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.
I'm not feeling alright today
I'm not feeling that great
I'm not catching on fire today
Love has started to fade
I'm not going to smile today
I'm not gonna laugh
You're out living it up today
I've got dues to pay
And the gravedigger puts on the forceps
The stonemason does all the work
The barber can give you a haircut
The carpenter can take you out to lunch
Now I just want to play on my panpipes
I just want to drink me some wine
As soon as you're born you start dyin'
So you might as well have a good time, oh no
Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
I don't wanna go to Sunset Strip
I don't wanna feel the emptiness
Old marquees with stupid band names
I don't wanna go to Sunset Strip
I don't wanna go to Sunset Strip
I don't wanna feel the emptiness
Old marquees with stupid band names
I don't wanna go to Sunset Strip
And the gravedigger puts on the forceps
The stonemason does all the work
The barber can give you a haircut
The carpenter can take you out to lunch
Now, but I just want to play on my panpipes
I just want to drink me some wine
As soon as you're born you start dyin'
So you might as well have a good time, oh no
Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
Sheep go to heaven
I'm not feeling that great
I'm not catching on fire today
Love has started to fade
I'm not going to smile today
I'm not gonna laugh
You're out living it up today
I've got dues to pay
And the gravedigger puts on the forceps
The stonemason does all the work
The barber can give you a haircut
The carpenter can take you out to lunch
Now I just want to play on my panpipes
I just want to drink me some wine
As soon as you're born you start dyin'
So you might as well have a good time, oh no
Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
I don't wanna go to Sunset Strip
I don't wanna feel the emptiness
Old marquees with stupid band names
I don't wanna go to Sunset Strip
I don't wanna go to Sunset Strip
I don't wanna feel the emptiness
Old marquees with stupid band names
I don't wanna go to Sunset Strip
And the gravedigger puts on the forceps
The stonemason does all the work
The barber can give you a haircut
The carpenter can take you out to lunch
Now, but I just want to play on my panpipes
I just want to drink me some wine
As soon as you're born you start dyin'
So you might as well have a good time, oh no
Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
Sheep go to heaven
Goats go to hell
Sheep go to heaven
Lyrics submitted by Ice, edited by gordon6003
Sheep Go to Heaven Lyrics as written by John M Mccrea
Lyrics © Stamen Music
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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It is about religion. Sheep are those that follow the crowd without question (religion). Goats are those that live for today (non-religious). He just wants to play the pan pipes and drink wine. He would be a goat. This line kind of sums it all up.
"As soon as you're born, you start dying, So you might as well have a good time,"
He obviously does notbelieve in life after death.
I don't think that drinking wine and playing panpipes means he wants to live an unrighteous life. In the Psalms it says to play any and all instruments you can to praise God. Drinking wine could be the blood of Christ. This isn't just about "following THE crowd" in order to fulfill righteousness because no matter where you are in life you're going to follow the path of those that influence you. Whether it be the path that Jesus has put before us or following the crowd that influences you to do wicked things. In the passage that this is a reference to the sheep are the people that help the needy ("clothing the naked, feeding the hungry, giving drink to those that are thirsty, inviting in strangers in times of trouble") The goats are the ones who saw the ones that were suffering and decided to do nothing about it so God told them they had no part with him, because God wants us to take care of each other, that's all the passage is really all about.