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.
Let me ask you a question
Tell me no lies
My friends you see
Are your alibis
Now tell me
Do you ever think
Of the life that you live
When you live it
Do you really give it
All you can give
I ask you this
Because the time is so near
No woman no cry
No living in fear
Lift up your head
Now you must stand tall
'Less you won't be around
To see Babylon fall
Pre-Chorus
All we really wanna see
The time for change has got to be
All we really wanna see
The time for change has got to be
All we really wanna see
The time for change has got to be
All we really wanna see
The time for change has got to be
Now!
I can see that it's time
In our lives to change things
Never been so clear as it is today
Good people now hear this
You got to show love
Please stop all the violence
The push and the shove
All we really wanna see
Is peace in our days
Freeing the people
Of their evil ways
I don't want to live a life
Of constant struggle
Still people everyday
Are in a state of trouble
Let us enjoy the life
That we have been given
Avoid all the strife
If we keep on living
Pre-chorus
I can see that it's time
In our lives to change things
Never been so clear as it is today
And if this time I am right
Soon the world will be changing
As one nation
We'll see a brighter day
Buildings are burning
Pages are turning
Yet nobody really wants to deal with it
The graveyards are filling
Because of the killing
Yet nobody really wants to deal with it
There's drugs in the cornfield
And blood on the windshield
Yet nobody really wants to deal with it
We're losing the best
With one shot to the chest
And nobody really wants to deal with it
I can see that it's time
In our lives to change things
Never been so clear as it is today
And if this time I am right
Soon the world will be changing
As one nation
We'll see a brighter day
Tell me no lies
My friends you see
Are your alibis
Now tell me
Do you ever think
Of the life that you live
When you live it
Do you really give it
All you can give
I ask you this
Because the time is so near
No woman no cry
No living in fear
Lift up your head
Now you must stand tall
'Less you won't be around
To see Babylon fall
Pre-Chorus
All we really wanna see
The time for change has got to be
All we really wanna see
The time for change has got to be
All we really wanna see
The time for change has got to be
All we really wanna see
The time for change has got to be
Now!
I can see that it's time
In our lives to change things
Never been so clear as it is today
Good people now hear this
You got to show love
Please stop all the violence
The push and the shove
All we really wanna see
Is peace in our days
Freeing the people
Of their evil ways
I don't want to live a life
Of constant struggle
Still people everyday
Are in a state of trouble
Let us enjoy the life
That we have been given
Avoid all the strife
If we keep on living
Pre-chorus
I can see that it's time
In our lives to change things
Never been so clear as it is today
And if this time I am right
Soon the world will be changing
As one nation
We'll see a brighter day
Buildings are burning
Pages are turning
Yet nobody really wants to deal with it
The graveyards are filling
Because of the killing
Yet nobody really wants to deal with it
There's drugs in the cornfield
And blood on the windshield
Yet nobody really wants to deal with it
We're losing the best
With one shot to the chest
And nobody really wants to deal with it
I can see that it's time
In our lives to change things
Never been so clear as it is today
And if this time I am right
Soon the world will be changing
As one nation
We'll see a brighter day
Lyrics submitted by geekusa
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