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.
Just a mile or so away
Is my dearest friend in this world
He wears the blue and I the grey
And God it hurts me so
The last time we were together
I grabbed his hand and I pledged
If I ever draw my sword on you
May the good lord strike me dead
The union flank's in trouble
To the round top on the double
A bad decision, insubordination
Exposed our lie in a dangerous way
The burden lies upon us
Surrender is not an option
We are the flank and if we break
The union crumbles, we could lose the war
Down below's the carnage
The rebels charging onward
Push the slaughter forward, the peach orchard
Through the wheat field and devil's den
The valor of the Texans
And Alabama's best men
They're unrelenting and devastating
The last full measure of devotion's clear
We know what we're made of
When up against all odds we hold our line
For the cause that we so love
We must hold at all cost
We know what we're made of
When our nation needs us we'll stay the cause
For the union we so love
We must hold at all costs
Wave after wave they're coming
Their power must be waning
We're out of ammo, we can't fall back, no
One desperate measure, a means to end
On their next wave we charge them
There is no other option
Disconcert them, force submission
On my command, fix bayonets
We know what we're made of
When up against all odds we hold our line
For the cause that we so love
We must hold at all cost
We know what we're made of
When our nation needs us we'll stay the cause
For the union we so love
We must hold at all costs
Is my dearest friend in this world
He wears the blue and I the grey
And God it hurts me so
The last time we were together
I grabbed his hand and I pledged
If I ever draw my sword on you
May the good lord strike me dead
The union flank's in trouble
To the round top on the double
A bad decision, insubordination
Exposed our lie in a dangerous way
The burden lies upon us
Surrender is not an option
We are the flank and if we break
The union crumbles, we could lose the war
Down below's the carnage
The rebels charging onward
Push the slaughter forward, the peach orchard
Through the wheat field and devil's den
The valor of the Texans
And Alabama's best men
They're unrelenting and devastating
The last full measure of devotion's clear
We know what we're made of
When up against all odds we hold our line
For the cause that we so love
We must hold at all cost
We know what we're made of
When our nation needs us we'll stay the cause
For the union we so love
We must hold at all costs
Wave after wave they're coming
Their power must be waning
We're out of ammo, we can't fall back, no
One desperate measure, a means to end
On their next wave we charge them
There is no other option
Disconcert them, force submission
On my command, fix bayonets
We know what we're made of
When up against all odds we hold our line
For the cause that we so love
We must hold at all cost
We know what we're made of
When our nation needs us we'll stay the cause
For the union we so love
We must hold at all costs
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