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 our world’s degradation
We take for granted all we have
And all that we were given
When was the last time that you looked up
And gazed upon a shopping mall
And said ‘how beautiful?’
So one more time, you hear my voice
We are the youth, you have the choice
So use it wisely
They pave the world in concrete
Soon nothing will be natural
But only artificial
Artificial and commercial
A superficial front for what is wrong
Human parasite
So one more time, you hear my voice
We are the youth, you have the choice
So use it wisely
Where could we have ever gone so wrong?
Nothing’s sacred, nothing’s sacred
We’re burning lands on consumer demands
Nothing’s sacred, nothing’s sacred
So one more time, you hear my voice
We are the youth, you have the choice
So use it wisely
Let’s bring it down now
Please don’t give up
Where could we have ever gone so wrong?
Nothing’s sacred, nothing’s sacred
We’re burning lands on consumer demands
Nothing’s sacred, nothing’s sacred.
We take for granted all we have
And all that we were given
When was the last time that you looked up
And gazed upon a shopping mall
And said ‘how beautiful?’
So one more time, you hear my voice
We are the youth, you have the choice
So use it wisely
They pave the world in concrete
Soon nothing will be natural
But only artificial
Artificial and commercial
A superficial front for what is wrong
Human parasite
So one more time, you hear my voice
We are the youth, you have the choice
So use it wisely
Where could we have ever gone so wrong?
Nothing’s sacred, nothing’s sacred
We’re burning lands on consumer demands
Nothing’s sacred, nothing’s sacred
So one more time, you hear my voice
We are the youth, you have the choice
So use it wisely
Let’s bring it down now
Please don’t give up
Where could we have ever gone so wrong?
Nothing’s sacred, nothing’s sacred
We’re burning lands on consumer demands
Nothing’s sacred, nothing’s sacred.
Lyrics submitted by oofus
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Holiday
Bee Gees
Bee Gees
@[Diderik:33655] "Your a holiday!" Was a popular term used in the 50s/60s to compliment someone on their all around. For example, not only are they beautiful, but they are fun and kind too ... just an all around "holiday".
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.
Gentle Hour
Yo La Tengo
Yo La Tengo
This song was originally written by a guy called Peter Gutteridge. He was one of the founders of the "Dunedin Sound" a musical scene in the south of New Zealand in the early 80s. From there it was covered by "The Clean" one of the early bands of that scene (he had originally been a member of in it's early days, writing a couple of their best early songs). The Dunedin sound, and the Clean became popular on american college radio in the mid to late 80s. I guess Yo La Tengo heard that version.
Great version of a great song,
When We Were Young
Blink-182
Blink-182
This is a sequel to 2001's "Reckless Abandon", and features the band looking back on their clumsy youth fondly.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
haha loser the song goes like this... in our world's degradation we take for granted all we have and all that we were given when was the last time that you looked up and gazed upon a shopping mall and said 'how beautiful? so one more time you hear my voice we are the youth you have the choice so use it wisely where could we have ever gone so wrong? nothings sacred we're burning lands on consumer demands nothin's sacred they pave the world in concrete soon nothing will be natural but only artificial artificial and commercial a superficial front for what iswrong; human parasite
and its about how he is saying we are ruining the world with all these damn stores and we are the youth we are the only ones that can stop it but we do nothing cause we dont see the real beauty in things anymore.