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.
break out the blindfolds!
theres teens cloaked in sheepskin
and we are the wolves at bay!
"put her to bed with the big ones, and we'll charge them at the door"
the devil soon was a vagabond, and we dressed him for the prom
and now the chorus sings filth hymns, as the next horseman, will transform
show me a swollen-headed hotshot son of a bitch
who licks his lips caked with glory,
and ghosts in fine suits will go dancing with contracts in their hands, oh oh oh
so alright ill say goddamn, the smoke and cameras will clean and then?
"we cant surely lead them to their dooms?"
"yeah of course we can! yeah of course we can!
we'll feed them shit till theyre full in their bellies
theyll love the taste even more than the feeling
and if they build that tower it will fall down
just like the last time"
(its not the same, its not the same)
"look at them starving while indulging in nothing," and now laying in rubble,
"swallow us all up we are surely not worthy!"
and there is nothing left to believe so theyll believe what they see
"swallow us all up we are surely not worthy!"
and there is nothing left to believe so theyll believe what they see
the ballroom is alive with torn bodies under stone
the ballroom is alive with torn bodies under stone
theres teens cloaked in sheepskin
and we are the wolves at bay!
"put her to bed with the big ones, and we'll charge them at the door"
the devil soon was a vagabond, and we dressed him for the prom
and now the chorus sings filth hymns, as the next horseman, will transform
show me a swollen-headed hotshot son of a bitch
who licks his lips caked with glory,
and ghosts in fine suits will go dancing with contracts in their hands, oh oh oh
so alright ill say goddamn, the smoke and cameras will clean and then?
"we cant surely lead them to their dooms?"
"yeah of course we can! yeah of course we can!
we'll feed them shit till theyre full in their bellies
theyll love the taste even more than the feeling
and if they build that tower it will fall down
just like the last time"
(its not the same, its not the same)
"look at them starving while indulging in nothing," and now laying in rubble,
"swallow us all up we are surely not worthy!"
and there is nothing left to believe so theyll believe what they see
"swallow us all up we are surely not worthy!"
and there is nothing left to believe so theyll believe what they see
the ballroom is alive with torn bodies under stone
the ballroom is alive with torn bodies under stone
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I think your first comment is closer to being accurate. The singer/song writers state "Millions of eyes can see, yet why am i so blind!? When the someone else is me, its unkind its unkind". I believe hes referring to the girl toying with him and using him. He wants something deeper with her, thats why he allows himself to be as a puppet (even though for her fun and games) as long as it makes her happy. But he knows deep down that she doesnt really want to be serious with him and thats what makes him.
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Just as a side note the song title refers to Pee-Wee's Big Adventure when Francis tells Pee-Wee to listen to reason and then Pee-Wee tells him, "Shhhhhh! I'm Listening To Reason".
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
what is this about? lord of the rings?
i thought it was about 9/11 and the war. "Show me a swollen-headed hotshot son of a bitch Who licks his lips caked with glory.." George W.?
""We can’t surely lead them to their dooms?" "Yeah of course we can! We’ll feed them shit till they’re full in their bellies They’ll love the taste even more than the feeling And if they build that tower it will fall down Just like the last time"" Telling people the war will do good? And the tower? As in the Twin Towers?
i love your name. on that note i think your view of it is pushing it. i understand what your saying. but ive read a lot about volcano and the album is mostly literary references. ive never been near a lord of the rings novel or movie so i'm not sure what the song is about. but the war thing is definitely possible.
the war is a good idea... I just thought that the line: "Swallow us all up we are surely not worthy!" /And there is nothing left to believe so they’ll believe what they see" was about propaganda and the media cause it seems like now there are no news sources that we can rely on to find out whats actually happening in the war and most people don't even realize they are being fed a bunch of bullshit from networks like fox and whatnot so all they do is just believe in what the headlines say....fuck bush
i think the last line is: "The ballroom's alive with torn bodies in motion." But okay, whatever. The war thing doesn't seem very likely although it's a valid explination, doesn't seem like Nic would write something so obvious. I think it had a much deeper meaning.
Maybe, just maybe, there are actually songs that aren't about Bush, 9/11, or the war in Iraq. Just a thought.
It could all be a metaphore.. don;t ask me.. I'm not a good interpetrer but what the heck.. might as well list my theory!
It's not about LOTR or 9/11. The tower reference is the tower of Babel. It's definately a literary reference. Perhaps another stab at Animal Farm?(The Windmill being the tower?) But the greater symbolism there would be that it was a song criticizing bureaucracy and corporate elitism and the "brand" culture. No specific people like Bush or anything like that, but a general statement. The teens dressed in sheepskin would be teens who follow the latest trends. The wolves at bay would be the corporate elite who prey on vulnerable teens to get their money and their minds. Etc etc. The references to prom would be, again, the idea of elegance and wealth. Wanting an expensive prom dress, a stretch hummer, and a weekend prom retreat.