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.
Words of the righteous
We will not bend
The odds keep stacking up against
Strengthen our self endurance
Break down the cycle
Of errors past
We have to face up to the truth
Relinquish every grudge or bruise
Every ounce of strength grasps
One solid dream
Violent soul
Will be whole
We have to face up to it
For every second we're alive
Let our light shine
To our grave, we must pave
A path for us to rise from
Power surge, kills the urge
Life and death collide
Smash all the boundaries
That hold us down
Hold on to everything that loves
Let go of anything that starves
People with envy will hold us down
Freedom is just a cut away
Nothing can pass our life away
Every ounce of strength grasps
One solid dream
Violent soul
Will be whole
We have to face up to it
For every second we're alive
Let our light shine bright
To our grave, we must pave
A path for us to rise from
Power surge, kills the urge
Life and death collide
We take life's ebb and flow
Testament to the things we know
With the fight, we must roll
Strength will follow
Tooth and nail for the ground that we hold
Failures from the start but we still grow
Heads held high, rally for throne
Holding our own
Not just words we'll show you so
I can't remember
These doubts I must dismember
And trust in whole
Follow your own lightness
Follow your sound
Believe in me
'Cause I believe in you
We will not bend
The odds keep stacking up against
Strengthen our self endurance
Break down the cycle
Of errors past
We have to face up to the truth
Relinquish every grudge or bruise
Every ounce of strength grasps
One solid dream
Violent soul
Will be whole
We have to face up to it
For every second we're alive
Let our light shine
To our grave, we must pave
A path for us to rise from
Power surge, kills the urge
Life and death collide
Smash all the boundaries
That hold us down
Hold on to everything that loves
Let go of anything that starves
People with envy will hold us down
Freedom is just a cut away
Nothing can pass our life away
Every ounce of strength grasps
One solid dream
Violent soul
Will be whole
We have to face up to it
For every second we're alive
Let our light shine bright
To our grave, we must pave
A path for us to rise from
Power surge, kills the urge
Life and death collide
We take life's ebb and flow
Testament to the things we know
With the fight, we must roll
Strength will follow
Tooth and nail for the ground that we hold
Failures from the start but we still grow
Heads held high, rally for throne
Holding our own
Not just words we'll show you so
I can't remember
These doubts I must dismember
And trust in whole
Follow your own lightness
Follow your sound
Believe in me
'Cause I believe in you
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This is definatly one of machine heads best songs. Its perfect apart from the double bass pedals are out of time in the drum intro.