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.
lay a sheet over the face of the picture
off yellow paper form a new name
make it east of misissippi and you're a hero
picket lines of fence
think ahead
my lungs leapt in my throat
to choke and move the lever now
my hands are shaking
and my eyes are shaking
set up
a single camera
a speckled line
to defend the time when
you were singled out to die
just like the romans
It's spread out
over 1,000 nautical miles
there's a crack in your window
there's a crack in your life
if this rolls over
to knock the spit out of my eyes
the machines calling you
to be a first rate army
i've tasted blood
i've tasted wine and sweat and blood
think ahead
my lung leapt in my throat
pull that lever now
off yellow paper form a new name
make it east of misissippi and you're a hero
picket lines of fence
think ahead
my lungs leapt in my throat
to choke and move the lever now
my hands are shaking
and my eyes are shaking
set up
a single camera
a speckled line
to defend the time when
you were singled out to die
just like the romans
It's spread out
over 1,000 nautical miles
there's a crack in your window
there's a crack in your life
if this rolls over
to knock the spit out of my eyes
the machines calling you
to be a first rate army
i've tasted blood
i've tasted wine and sweat and blood
think ahead
my lung leapt in my throat
pull that lever now
Lyrics submitted by AllStarMe
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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One of my fav albums of all time. Just realized this song has got to be about going to jail. When they bring you in at any jail, there are two garages, one is labeled buses, the other, no buses. Get arrested and see for yourself!
the refrain "set up" backs up that claim. i like it... new spin on an old song, for me.
i love this song soossososos much. it's so good
you listen to the guitars? oh god
This song reminds me of At The Drive-In. "Picket lines of fence" sounds like it's from a song off of El Gran Orgo, and the "just like the Romans" bit makes me think of ATD-I, too.
Really really good song, though.
yeah alot of bearvsshark makes me think of at the drive-in it seems as if they use alot of their themes
This song will always make me think of their live shows, and how great they were live.. as good as the albums are, they don't even come close...
Sad tehy are gone...
WEZ
fantastic song. too bad they broke up. i was going to be at what i later found out was their last show but it was like a blizzard so i didnt go.
the end of this song brings so much emotion to me
I think it's talking about segragation and equal rights movements in the 60's..."Make it eas of Mississppi and you're a hero. Picket lines of fence"...picket lines could be refering to the marchers and protesters...Just my opinion though Bear vs. Shark kix!
I always thought it was a song about escaping. The first two lines imply finding a new identity.
Just my two cents.