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 COUNTRY WAS FOUNDED ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT THE PRIMARY ROLE OF THE GOVERNMENT IS TO PROTECT PROPERTY FROM THE MAJORITY
AND SO IT REMAINS
1, 2, 3, 4
Hello it's us again
We're still so in love with you
And yes we mean it too
Yes we're so in love with you
Hello it's us again
You thought you were our friends
Success is an ugly word
Especially in your tiny world
The masses against the classes
I'm tired of giving a reason
When the future is what we believe in
We love winter
It brings us closer together
So can you hurt us anymore
Can you feel like it was before
Or are you lost forever more
Messed up and dead on alcohol
Hello, fond farewell my dears
I hope you hear this nice and clear
Our love is unconditional
Our hate is yours to feed upon
The masses against the classes
I'm tired of giving a reason
When the future is what we believe in
We love the winter
It brings us closer together
The masses against the classes
I'm tired of giving a reason
When we're the only thing left to believe in
We love the winter
It brings us closer together
A SLAVE BEGINS BY DEMANDING JUSTICE
AND ENDS BY WANTING TO WEAR A CROWN
AND SO IT REMAINS
1, 2, 3, 4
Hello it's us again
We're still so in love with you
And yes we mean it too
Yes we're so in love with you
Hello it's us again
You thought you were our friends
Success is an ugly word
Especially in your tiny world
The masses against the classes
I'm tired of giving a reason
When the future is what we believe in
We love winter
It brings us closer together
So can you hurt us anymore
Can you feel like it was before
Or are you lost forever more
Messed up and dead on alcohol
Hello, fond farewell my dears
I hope you hear this nice and clear
Our love is unconditional
Our hate is yours to feed upon
The masses against the classes
I'm tired of giving a reason
When the future is what we believe in
We love the winter
It brings us closer together
The masses against the classes
I'm tired of giving a reason
When we're the only thing left to believe in
We love the winter
It brings us closer together
A SLAVE BEGINS BY DEMANDING JUSTICE
AND ENDS BY WANTING TO WEAR A CROWN
Lyrics submitted by Thom Webbe
Masses Against the Classes Lyrics as written by Nicholas Jones James Bradfield
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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
Standing On The Edge Of Summer
Thursday
Thursday
In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
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.
I never thought this song really means what the title would suggest at face value. I tend to agree with my nothing's analysis except I would say it is aimed more at the so-called "fans" who constantly bitch about how the MSP have got more commercial (Success is an ugly word Especially in your tiny world )/crap after Richey left and so on.
I think the line "I'm tired of giving a reason " is them saying they're fed up of having to justify everything they do to the aforementioned so-called fans. They believe in the future, nothing stays the same etc. if you don't like the music they are putting out now then piss off and spend all day listening to the Holy Bible and feeling nostalgic.
good interpretation
Lol Its easier to definatively define this song than "the everlasting"
Can't believe it's taken me so long to ever comment on this song but I entirely agree with Paulotehmanio. I don't think it's in line with the Manic's "socialist type" leanings at all and that they're very much "the classes" in this song.<br /> I think it's a big two fingers up to the fans moaning at them and the last line isn't so much a comment on society, as pointing out that even if they have become the slave with a crown, they're not utterly disgusted at themselves for having done so.<br /> <br /> "Success is an ugly word, especially in your tiny World" applies very much to the thoughts I have on many in Glasgow just now whooping and hollering about being in the 44.7%