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.
In the unemployment line
Sitting around the welfare office
Waiting for the food stamps to come in
Our eyes meet and we both know
Sitting on the sidewalk
Getting jacked up
Waiting to be booked and released
Our eyes meet and we both know
Everybody knows authority is just abuse anyway
Everybody knows it's just no use anyway
So kill your elected officers today
We will win
You got your eyes on me when I'm in your store
Cuz you know I've got to steal just to eat
But your boss don't pay you shit
You're one check away from
Being homeless just like me.
Lower class, middle class, no class we're all the same
We got all the bosses, we got landlords, we all play the slavery game
They've got the guns but we got the numbers.
When the people are one we will be unstoppable
Everybody knows employment is just abuse anyway
Everybody knows its just no use anyway
So Kill your boss today
We will win
At your eviction
Your landlord throws your shit out on the street
He's got help from his best friend, the pigs
There's really no way to explain it to your kids
Now we're in the soup line
Next door to the supermarket Mega-store
We know it's only a matter of time
Before we kick down the door and
Take away everything
And everybody knows wealth is abuse anyway everybody knows it's no use anyway
So kill your land lord today
We Will Win
Sitting around the welfare office
Waiting for the food stamps to come in
Our eyes meet and we both know
Sitting on the sidewalk
Getting jacked up
Waiting to be booked and released
Our eyes meet and we both know
Everybody knows authority is just abuse anyway
Everybody knows it's just no use anyway
So kill your elected officers today
We will win
You got your eyes on me when I'm in your store
Cuz you know I've got to steal just to eat
But your boss don't pay you shit
You're one check away from
Being homeless just like me.
Lower class, middle class, no class we're all the same
We got all the bosses, we got landlords, we all play the slavery game
They've got the guns but we got the numbers.
When the people are one we will be unstoppable
Everybody knows employment is just abuse anyway
Everybody knows its just no use anyway
So Kill your boss today
We will win
At your eviction
Your landlord throws your shit out on the street
He's got help from his best friend, the pigs
There's really no way to explain it to your kids
Now we're in the soup line
Next door to the supermarket Mega-store
We know it's only a matter of time
Before we kick down the door and
Take away everything
And everybody knows wealth is abuse anyway everybody knows it's no use anyway
So kill your land lord today
We Will Win
Lyrics submitted by oofus
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