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.
To all those people doing lines
Don't do it, don't do it
Inject your soul with liberty
It's free, it's free
To all the kids with heroin eyes
Don't do it, don't do it
Because it's not, not what it seems
No, no it's not, not what it seems
Salvation, salvation, salvation is free
Salvation, salvation, salvation is free
(Uh huh huh uh huh huh uh huh huh uh huh huh uh huh huh uh huh huh uh huh huh)
Do do do do do do do do
Do do do doooo
Do do do do do do do do
Do do do doooo
To all the parents with sleepless nights
Sleepless nights
Tie your kids home to their beds
Clean their heads
To all the kids with heroin eyes
Don't do it, don't do it
Because it's not, not what it seems
No, no it's not, not what it seems
Salvation, salvation, salvation is free
Salvation, salvation, salvation is free
Salvation, salvation, salvation is free
Salvation, salvation, salvation is free
(Uh huh huh uh huh huh uh huh huh uh huh huh uh huh huh uh huh huh uh huh huh)
Don't do it, don't do it
Inject your soul with liberty
It's free, it's free
To all the kids with heroin eyes
Don't do it, don't do it
Because it's not, not what it seems
No, no it's not, not what it seems
Salvation, salvation, salvation is free
Salvation, salvation, salvation is free
(Uh huh huh uh huh huh uh huh huh uh huh huh uh huh huh uh huh huh uh huh huh)
Do do do do do do do do
Do do do doooo
Do do do do do do do do
Do do do doooo
To all the parents with sleepless nights
Sleepless nights
Tie your kids home to their beds
Clean their heads
To all the kids with heroin eyes
Don't do it, don't do it
Because it's not, not what it seems
No, no it's not, not what it seems
Salvation, salvation, salvation is free
Salvation, salvation, salvation is free
Salvation, salvation, salvation is free
Salvation, salvation, salvation is free
(Uh huh huh uh huh huh uh huh huh uh huh huh uh huh huh uh huh huh uh huh huh)
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(sigh) one of the things i like about the cranberries is that they're out there making messages about society, life, government, etc. plus, she has an awesome voice.