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.
Know this ones dedicated to the police dem you know Liar
Cause some of them is wicked and them good for nothing
And dem love pick upon people
And dem think der no right
And I man come to show you dat
Alright alright alright alright
So we kick it up because you
So we kick it up because you
So we kick it up because you
So we kick it up because you know we good to go
One for the money and three for the show
Warning for you and here's a warning for me
No bodder test the beast it coulder end up nasty
Stop you on the street without a reason
Search through your pockets under suspicion
Everybody in ya is a prime suspect
Gone are the days where they serve and protect
Learn babylon learn babylon learn
Play with fire you must get burn
[Repeat]
Danger you know that the fire is burning, seen
Danger you know that the fire is burning, gworn
[Repeat]
Babylon hear this
From I was a yoot police ah give me a hard time
They said I looking like a crook and you're destined for crime
Positive police me never met much of dem
An the one's down pill cause most the problems
Driving up and down dem ah check an dem ah stare
Look out natty dread locks you best beware
Why can't they be like the ones on the bill
Who never ever curse or they never ever kill
[Chorus]
[middle 8]
Danger Selector Enter
Danger you know that the fire is burning
Danger you know that the fire is burning
Gworn danger gworn danger
Babylon
Whoop whoop das the sound of the police
Whoop whoop das the sound of the beast
Learn babylon learn babylon la la la
Learn babylon learn babylon la la la
Learn babylon learn babylon la la la
Learn babylon learn babylon la la la
Learn
Cause some of them is wicked and them good for nothing
And dem love pick upon people
And dem think der no right
And I man come to show you dat
Alright alright alright alright
So we kick it up because you
So we kick it up because you
So we kick it up because you
So we kick it up because you know we good to go
One for the money and three for the show
Warning for you and here's a warning for me
No bodder test the beast it coulder end up nasty
Stop you on the street without a reason
Search through your pockets under suspicion
Everybody in ya is a prime suspect
Gone are the days where they serve and protect
Learn babylon learn babylon learn
Play with fire you must get burn
[Repeat]
Danger you know that the fire is burning, seen
Danger you know that the fire is burning, gworn
[Repeat]
Babylon hear this
From I was a yoot police ah give me a hard time
They said I looking like a crook and you're destined for crime
Positive police me never met much of dem
An the one's down pill cause most the problems
Driving up and down dem ah check an dem ah stare
Look out natty dread locks you best beware
Why can't they be like the ones on the bill
Who never ever curse or they never ever kill
[Chorus]
[middle 8]
Danger Selector Enter
Danger you know that the fire is burning
Danger you know that the fire is burning
Gworn danger gworn danger
Babylon
Whoop whoop das the sound of the police
Whoop whoop das the sound of the beast
Learn babylon learn babylon la la la
Learn babylon learn babylon la la la
Learn babylon learn babylon la la la
Learn babylon learn babylon la la la
Learn
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
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Blue
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
“Blue” is a song about a love that is persisting in the discomfort of the person experiencing the emotion. Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He expresses the realization that he might never find another on this stringed instrumental by Aaron Dessner.
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.
Fantastic track yet again from a brilliant band. Basically about the corruption of the 'system', Babylon.
gonna have to disagree with morpheusvw, it's about the Tribulation. The Anti-Christ will make Babylon his capital and it will eventually be destroyed by God
patriot theres absolutely no way you're right so I'm going to assume you're being sarcastic and laugh.....haha
Im pretty sure its about the police. 'Gone are the days where they serve and protect' and he actully does say 'police' several times. Mentions crooks and crime, and The Bill. For you americans, The Bill is a cop show in England, and Skindred are Welsh, so they've probably seen it. 'Everybody's a prime suspect'. The list of quotes goes on. It may be about coruption of the system, like morpheusvw said, but the police are part of the system, no?