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.
You know the system kills,
So you try to take a stance
BOYCOTT
You speak up for the people who will never get their own chance BOYCOTT
But are your views sincere?
Do you practice that what you preach?
BOYCOTT
Or are you just fooling yourself,
The truth just out of your reach?
BOYCOTT
You're helping to enchance the rich while fucking over the poor BOYCOTT
You've heared it all before and you know just what i'm saying
BOYCOTT
You hate these corporate killers but you fucking keep on paying
For the products you don't need
You share with them their fucking greed
And responibility for those who died
Their exploitation and genocide
All the shit you fucking hate
Too blink to see that you helped create
CHORUS:
You're the living proof that the system works…
That the system works for them
You spend your hard earned money
And help support their death
Boycott big business because death in the going rate
BOYCOTT
You control who you support so why support what you hate
BOYCOTT
Multi-national companies are hiding under fase names
BOYCOTT
To protect themselves from people who are unaware of their games BOYCOTT
So fuck their games and fuck their lies instead just stop and think
BOYCOTT
Is all of their suffering worth your burgers and your softdrinks?
BOYCOTT
When you buy their products you ignore the blood their spilling BOYCOTT
Reject this capitalist system and support the ones their killing BOYCOTT
Fuck convenience in their store
If it's important it's worht fighting for
Don't you see you hold the key
Throw out your fucking apathy
Then start to spread the worth around
And help to bring the companies down
CHORUS
Our individual effort is where the struggle begins
To stand up and fight for those oppresed by politicians
The companies condition the public thought media bullshit
All of this suffering is inflicted just to turn a fucking profit
They stifle criticism with a cost of living raise
Selling out the working class a million different ways
The power that you give them is how they keep control
Don't support them anymore, it's time to take back what they stole Fuck
the system, fuck it's views, it's the people they abuse
Abuse of power and authority is the downfall of society
But people never seem to listen, the're all brainwashed by the system
CHORUS
So you try to take a stance
BOYCOTT
You speak up for the people who will never get their own chance BOYCOTT
But are your views sincere?
Do you practice that what you preach?
BOYCOTT
Or are you just fooling yourself,
The truth just out of your reach?
BOYCOTT
You're helping to enchance the rich while fucking over the poor BOYCOTT
You've heared it all before and you know just what i'm saying
BOYCOTT
You hate these corporate killers but you fucking keep on paying
For the products you don't need
You share with them their fucking greed
And responibility for those who died
Their exploitation and genocide
All the shit you fucking hate
Too blink to see that you helped create
CHORUS:
You're the living proof that the system works…
That the system works for them
You spend your hard earned money
And help support their death
Boycott big business because death in the going rate
BOYCOTT
You control who you support so why support what you hate
BOYCOTT
Multi-national companies are hiding under fase names
BOYCOTT
To protect themselves from people who are unaware of their games BOYCOTT
So fuck their games and fuck their lies instead just stop and think
BOYCOTT
Is all of their suffering worth your burgers and your softdrinks?
BOYCOTT
When you buy their products you ignore the blood their spilling BOYCOTT
Reject this capitalist system and support the ones their killing BOYCOTT
Fuck convenience in their store
If it's important it's worht fighting for
Don't you see you hold the key
Throw out your fucking apathy
Then start to spread the worth around
And help to bring the companies down
CHORUS
Our individual effort is where the struggle begins
To stand up and fight for those oppresed by politicians
The companies condition the public thought media bullshit
All of this suffering is inflicted just to turn a fucking profit
They stifle criticism with a cost of living raise
Selling out the working class a million different ways
The power that you give them is how they keep control
Don't support them anymore, it's time to take back what they stole Fuck
the system, fuck it's views, it's the people they abuse
Abuse of power and authority is the downfall of society
But people never seem to listen, the're all brainwashed by the system
CHORUS
Lyrics submitted by BRUCE_BLETHEN
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Cajun Girl
Little Feat
Little Feat
Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
Mountain Song
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction
Jane's Addiction vocalist Perry Farrell gives Adam Reader some heartfelt insight into Jane’s Addiction's hard rock manifesto "Mountain Song", which was the second single from their revolutionary album Nothing's Shocking. Mountain song was first recorded in 1986 and appeared on the soundtrack to the film Dudes starring Jon Cryer. The version on Nothing's Shocking was re-recorded in 1988.
"'Mountain Song' was actually about... I hate to say it but... drugs. Climbing this mountain and getting as high as you can, and then coming down that mountain," reveals Farrell. "What it feels to descend from the mountain top... not easy at all. The ascension is tough but exhilarating. Getting down is... it's a real bummer. Drugs is not for everybody obviously. For me, I wanted to experience the heights, and the lows come along with it."
"There's a part - 'Cash in now honey, cash in Miss Smith.' Miss Smith is my Mother; our last name was Smith. Cashing in when she cashed in her life. So... she decided that, to her... at that time, she was desperate. Life wasn't worth it for her, that was her opinion. Some people think, never take your life, and some people find that their life isn't worth living. She was in love with my Dad, and my Dad was not faithful to her, and it broke her heart. She was very desperate and she did something that I know she regrets."
Page
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
There aren’t many things that’ll hurt more than giving love a chance against your better judgement only to have your heart crushed yet again. Ed Sheeran tells such a story on “Page.” On this track, he is devastated to have lost his lover and even more saddened by the feeling that he may never move on from this.
this is the best aus rotten song ever. hell its one of the best songs period. i love the beginning how the guys are talking "VIOLENCE IS AS AMERICAN AS CHERRY PIE" and i love the part how the guy says the government has turned whites against blacks (speaking). its a great song. aus rotten kicks all ass