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.
The arrogance of angels, the heresy of Christ
The stupidity of humanity, the skeletons of society
It's time to separate the saints from the sinners
Judgment day is coming, evacuate then renovate
Proclaimed by a thousand prophets, believed by a million fools
But the day will come when everything falls apart
All it takes is a single act of animal desperation
And what if all the things we believed in were true
Decades of decadence and eons of evil
Worldwide terror in the shape of a shining star
From the center of damnation to the outskirts of Hell
Redemption only comes with a pair of numbered wings
In our quest for miracles, we started a war of genitals
Disguised as the bearers of justice, we took your fears a made you a God
Why are you afraid of something you're not even sure exists?
I am the maze of God, I am the true face of fraud
Embrace the pain, and I will lead you to another heaven
For who are you to believe in another paradise than mine?
The Infant Prodigy, The Bearer of Light
Without me you would be nothing at all
The beginning and the end are the same, the circle never ends
And the more things change, the more they stay the same
Decades of decadence and eons of evil
Worldwide terror in the shape of a shining star
From the center of damnation to the outskirts of Hell
Redemption only comes with a pair of numbered wings
The stupidity of humanity, the skeletons of society
It's time to separate the saints from the sinners
Judgment day is coming, evacuate then renovate
Proclaimed by a thousand prophets, believed by a million fools
But the day will come when everything falls apart
All it takes is a single act of animal desperation
And what if all the things we believed in were true
Decades of decadence and eons of evil
Worldwide terror in the shape of a shining star
From the center of damnation to the outskirts of Hell
Redemption only comes with a pair of numbered wings
In our quest for miracles, we started a war of genitals
Disguised as the bearers of justice, we took your fears a made you a God
Why are you afraid of something you're not even sure exists?
I am the maze of God, I am the true face of fraud
Embrace the pain, and I will lead you to another heaven
For who are you to believe in another paradise than mine?
The Infant Prodigy, The Bearer of Light
Without me you would be nothing at all
The beginning and the end are the same, the circle never ends
And the more things change, the more they stay the same
Decades of decadence and eons of evil
Worldwide terror in the shape of a shining star
From the center of damnation to the outskirts of Hell
Redemption only comes with a pair of numbered wings
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
Dreamwalker
Silent Planet
Silent Planet
I think much like another song “Anti-Matter” (that's also on the same album as this song), this one is also is inspired by a horrifying van crash the band experienced on Nov 3, 2022. This, much like the other track, sounds like it's an extension what they shared while huddled in the wreckage, as they helped frontman Garrett Russell stem the bleeding from his head wound while he was under the temporary effects of a concussion. The track speaks of where the mind goes at the most desperate & desolate of times, when it just about slips away to all but disconnect itself, and the aftermath.
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,
Head > Heels
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Head > Heels” is a track that aims to capture what it feels like to experience romance that exceeds expectations. Ed Sheeran dedicates his album outro to a lover who has blessed him with a unique experience that he seeks to describe through the song’s nuanced lyrics.
Amazing
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran tells a story of unsuccessfully trying to feel “Amazing.” This track is about the being weighed down by emotional stress despite valiant attempts to find some positivity in the situation. This track was written by Ed Sheeran from the perspective of his friend. From the track, we see this person fall deeper into the negative thoughts and slide further down the path of mental torment with every lyric.