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.
There's no earthly way of knowing
What was in your heart when it stopped going
The whole world shook
A storm was blowing through you
Waiting for God to stop this
And up to your neck in darkness
Everyone around you was corrupted
Say something
There's no dignity in death
To sell the world your last breath
We're still fighting
Over everything you left
I saw you standing at the gates
When Marlon Brando passed away
You had that look upon your face
Advertising space
No one learned from your mistakes
We let our prophets go to waste
All that's left in any case
Is advertising space
Through your eyes the world was burning
"Please be gentle, I'm still learning"
You seemed to say as you kept turning up
They poisoned you with compromise
But at what point did you realize
Everybody loves your life but you?
A special agent for the man
Through Watergate and Vietnam
No one really gave a damn
Do you think the C.I.A. did?
I saw you standing at the gates
When Marlon Brando passed away
You had that look upon your face
Advertising space
No one learned from your mistakes
We let our prophets go to waste
All that's left in any case
Is advertising space
No one learned from your mistakes
We let our prophets go to waste
All that's left in any case
Is advertising space
I've seen your daughter man
She's cute
I was scared but I wanted to
Boy, she looks a lot like you
What was in your heart when it stopped going
The whole world shook
A storm was blowing through you
Waiting for God to stop this
And up to your neck in darkness
Everyone around you was corrupted
Say something
There's no dignity in death
To sell the world your last breath
We're still fighting
Over everything you left
I saw you standing at the gates
When Marlon Brando passed away
You had that look upon your face
Advertising space
No one learned from your mistakes
We let our prophets go to waste
All that's left in any case
Is advertising space
Through your eyes the world was burning
"Please be gentle, I'm still learning"
You seemed to say as you kept turning up
They poisoned you with compromise
But at what point did you realize
Everybody loves your life but you?
A special agent for the man
Through Watergate and Vietnam
No one really gave a damn
Do you think the C.I.A. did?
I saw you standing at the gates
When Marlon Brando passed away
You had that look upon your face
Advertising space
No one learned from your mistakes
We let our prophets go to waste
All that's left in any case
Is advertising space
No one learned from your mistakes
We let our prophets go to waste
All that's left in any case
Is advertising space
I've seen your daughter man
She's cute
I was scared but I wanted to
Boy, she looks a lot like you
Lyrics submitted by minimoorcroft
Advertising Space Lyrics as written by Robert Williams Stephen Duffy
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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ok let me try to {hopefully} clear up some confusion about the Marlon Brando reference.
Like some others mentioned, elvis and brando were of the same era and quite similar personality wise- rebels/sex symbols. I think elvis was onces described as "Marlon brando with a guitar".
"And no one learned from your mistakes, The little prophets go to waste. All that's left in any case, Is advertising space."
Elvis was the prophet, people didn't/wouldn't learn from his mistakes. Like elvis had died depressed/fat/addicted to drugs so too did Brando.
Robbie Williams is hypothesising that could elvis look at how things havn't changed since he died, he would be disapointed that he died in vain and all he, and his fellow celebrities are good for are advertising space.