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.
I had a golden ring and I kept it with golden things
In the Bank of Million dreams that was bursting at all the seams
I had a golden ring. It was such an important thing
That I kept it beneath my bed, and I carried it in my head
I had a golden dream, and the way it came down to me
Was through Captains of Alchemy, who came up from a steely sea
And I dreamed through the rainy night, and I managed to sleep alright
And my body became so light, that I managed to give it flight
Because I know gold is just a trick of the light
And lead is light as a feather
So, leave me where the kids are alright
And we will all go down together
I had a golden dream, and they took it away from me
And they pulled it out of my head, and they showed me that it was lead
But I know gold is just a trick of the light
And lead is light as a feather
So, leave me where the kids are alright
And we will all go down together
And that's the way it's going to be
And there's water in wine
And there's nickel in dimes
And they knew all the time
But gold is just a trick of the light
And lead is light as a feather
So, leave me where the kids are alright
And we will all go down together
And gold is just a trick of the light
And lead is light as a feather
So, leave me where the kids are alright
And we will all go down together
And that's the way it's going to be
That's the way, it's going to be
In the Bank of Million dreams that was bursting at all the seams
I had a golden ring. It was such an important thing
That I kept it beneath my bed, and I carried it in my head
I had a golden dream, and the way it came down to me
Was through Captains of Alchemy, who came up from a steely sea
And I dreamed through the rainy night, and I managed to sleep alright
And my body became so light, that I managed to give it flight
Because I know gold is just a trick of the light
And lead is light as a feather
So, leave me where the kids are alright
And we will all go down together
I had a golden dream, and they took it away from me
And they pulled it out of my head, and they showed me that it was lead
But I know gold is just a trick of the light
And lead is light as a feather
So, leave me where the kids are alright
And we will all go down together
And that's the way it's going to be
And there's water in wine
And there's nickel in dimes
And they knew all the time
But gold is just a trick of the light
And lead is light as a feather
So, leave me where the kids are alright
And we will all go down together
And gold is just a trick of the light
And lead is light as a feather
So, leave me where the kids are alright
And we will all go down together
And that's the way it's going to be
That's the way, it's going to be
Lyrics submitted by weezerific:cutlery
Better Dead Than Lead Lyrics as written by Theodore F Leo
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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I love the way he sings: "and light as a feather" it make a rumble in my pants.
err.. "and lead is light as a feather".
I have no idea waht this song is about but I agree that the chorus of 'because I know gold is just a trick of the light and lead is light as a feather' is really beautiful. I don't know about rumblings in my pants, but it's a beautiful chorus.
It seems like it's just about how people (or possibly the government) will always lie to you and make certain things seem more valuable than others for their own benefit. That's how I understand it at least.
It seems like about half the lyrics are missing here.
I thought it was a The Who tribute at first. On account of the lines 'Trick of the Light' and 'The Kids Are Alright' which are both Who songs.
Having your dreams crushed by others perhaps.
There are a lot of Alchemy references in this song. An Alchemists main goal was to turn lead into gold and it seems to me the whole song is sort of saying that he's got something that he thinks is good, his mind or his thoughts or beliefs, but "They", that ubiquitous They, don't think its good enough. They're saying, "what you have is lead not gold, its worthless and useless.", but in the chorus the singer is fighting back saying that their gold is fake, "a trick of the night".
gold is just a trick of the light! and lead is liiii ee iight 's a feather
^gets stuck in my head alll day
I think its about a person ideas and how there ideas and beliefs are there most prized possesions Gold=things they believe in Lead=things they dont believe in. So the Captains of Alchemy who are really good at making lead look like its gold give it to this man to believe in there cause. Someone comes up to that guys points out to him that this thing he believes in so vehemently is actually something very ugly and not what he thought at all.
So maybe its about The Iraq War.
Politicians makes us believe in it and it turns out its not what we thought it was at all.
Also as I was typing I thought this could also be about materialism, A man thinksonly about money and doesnt care about anything else. A guy gives him one piece of Gold that is so wonderful it makes him fly. and it turns out that that wasnt even gold it was lead.
SO now I just confused myself on what i think it means. I guess Ill let you decide in which one to believe
I think its about a person ideas and how there ideas and beliefs are there most prized possesions Gold=things they believe in Lead=things they dont believe in. So the Captains of Alchemy who are really good at making lead look like its gold give it to this man to believe in there cause. Someone comes up to that guys points out to him that this thing he believes in so vehemently is actually something very ugly and not what he thought at all.
So maybe its about The Iraq War.
Politicians makes us believe in it and it turns out its not what we thought it was at all.
Also as I was typing I thought this could also be about materialism, A man thinksonly about money and doesnt care about anything else. A guy gives him one piece of Gold that is so wonderful it makes him fly. and it turns out that that wasnt even gold it was lead.
SO now I just confused myself on what i think it means. I guess Ill let you decide in which one to believe