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.
A new iron curtain drawn across the 49th parallel. Cut all diplomatic ties as we expel all American dignitaries and issue a nation-wide travel advisory for any others left outside. Nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. The burned out shells of south-bound traffic lay strewn along a cold stretch of would-be interstate. Still visible below their charred remains: Pax Americana plates. Your stupid fucking laser-pucks were just the start. And while you may stand six full cubits and a span, we got a shepherd's sling and five stones in our hand and the battle of 1812 lives in our hearts. We don't care if we're destroyed. We'll never capitulate. We'll take the whole fucking world down with us in flames. Just a speculative fiction. No cause for alarm. We got at 15 years left 'til the United We Stand murals on West Broadway finally fade and we wave good-bye to such sad, childish refrains. Replaced with other stupid lullabies like you can have my guns when you pry them from my cold dead hands. Just a speculative fiction. No cause for alarm.
Lyrics submitted by bad astronaut
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zmodem, I think I can clarify the "United We Stand" thing for you. West Broadway is a real neighborhood in Winnipeg (where the band is based). David Nygard, the Winnipeg-based designer and fashionista, owns a building in West Broadway where he had a huge mural made after 9/11 with Canadian and American flags and the phrase "United We Stand."
As the song is lampooning Canadian nationalism, I think the implication is that by Canadians hating the pro-USA mural we are directing our patriotism at token or symbolic images when we could be using our energies at making real and positive changes.