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.
It was a day or so ago
I saw him run into the night
And on his face, more than a trace
Of wild fear in the eye
He was haunted by a tragic dream
Of people in death machines
And he did not know which side he was on
And he hated being in between oh
Bombs away, bombs away
Sign of the times, watch where you're going
Bombs away, bombs away
What will you do see you if I free you
Bombs away, bombs away
Into the night feel the fear
Bombs away, bombs away
Do you know your left from your right
He's tired of the lies
He's tired of the truth
They never give him what they say
He's tired of the fight
He's tired of the truce
The blackmail of judgement day
He believes in a magic wave
That rolls on the sea of time
That can touch every single human soul
If they could recognize it when it came, too late
Bombs away, bombs away
Sign of the times, watch where you're going
Bombs away, bombs away
What will you do see you if I free you
Bombs away, bombs away
Into the night feel the fear
Bombs away, bombs away
Don't you know your left from your right
Ye hum ye hum oh ye hum ye hum oh ye hum
Ye hum oh ye hum ye hum oh ye hum
Ye hum oh ye hum ye hum oh ye hum ( We mame, bathini? ngingenzani? )
Ye hum oh ye hum ye hum oh ye hum ( We mame, bathini? ngingenzani? )
Ye hum oh ye hum ye hum oh ye hum ( We mame, bathini? ngingenzani? )
Ye hum oh ye hum ye hum oh ye hum ( We mame, bathini? ngingenzani? )
Watch where you go ( Bombs away )
What will you do ( Bombs away )
Save the freedom ( Bombs away )
Into the night ( Bombs away )
Feel the fear ( Bombs away )
It's so near ( Bombs away )
Look over you're shoulder ( Bombs away )
Turn to the left ( Bombs away )
Turn with a little right ( Bombs away )
At anytime ( Bombs away )
It can appear ( Bombs away )
Say it again ( Bombs away )
Watch where you go ( Bombs away )
What will you do ( Bombs away )
Save the freedom ( Bombs away )
Into the night ( Bombs away )
Feel the fear ( Bombs away )
It's so near ( Bombs away )
Look over you're shoulder ( Bombs away )
Turn to the left ( Bombs away )
Turn to the right ( Bombs away )
At anytime ( Bombs away )
It can appear ( Bombs away )
Say it all again ( Bombs away )
Watch where you go ( Bombs away )
What will you do ( Bombs away )
Save the freedom ( Bombs away )
I saw him run into the night
And on his face, more than a trace
Of wild fear in the eye
He was haunted by a tragic dream
Of people in death machines
And he did not know which side he was on
And he hated being in between oh
Bombs away, bombs away
Sign of the times, watch where you're going
Bombs away, bombs away
What will you do see you if I free you
Bombs away, bombs away
Into the night feel the fear
Bombs away, bombs away
Do you know your left from your right
He's tired of the lies
He's tired of the truth
They never give him what they say
He's tired of the fight
He's tired of the truce
The blackmail of judgement day
He believes in a magic wave
That rolls on the sea of time
That can touch every single human soul
If they could recognize it when it came, too late
Bombs away, bombs away
Sign of the times, watch where you're going
Bombs away, bombs away
What will you do see you if I free you
Bombs away, bombs away
Into the night feel the fear
Bombs away, bombs away
Don't you know your left from your right
Ye hum ye hum oh ye hum ye hum oh ye hum
Ye hum oh ye hum ye hum oh ye hum
Ye hum oh ye hum ye hum oh ye hum ( We mame, bathini? ngingenzani? )
Ye hum oh ye hum ye hum oh ye hum ( We mame, bathini? ngingenzani? )
Ye hum oh ye hum ye hum oh ye hum ( We mame, bathini? ngingenzani? )
Ye hum oh ye hum ye hum oh ye hum ( We mame, bathini? ngingenzani? )
Watch where you go ( Bombs away )
What will you do ( Bombs away )
Save the freedom ( Bombs away )
Into the night ( Bombs away )
Feel the fear ( Bombs away )
It's so near ( Bombs away )
Look over you're shoulder ( Bombs away )
Turn to the left ( Bombs away )
Turn with a little right ( Bombs away )
At anytime ( Bombs away )
It can appear ( Bombs away )
Say it again ( Bombs away )
Watch where you go ( Bombs away )
What will you do ( Bombs away )
Save the freedom ( Bombs away )
Into the night ( Bombs away )
Feel the fear ( Bombs away )
It's so near ( Bombs away )
Look over you're shoulder ( Bombs away )
Turn to the left ( Bombs away )
Turn to the right ( Bombs away )
At anytime ( Bombs away )
It can appear ( Bombs away )
Say it all again ( Bombs away )
Watch where you go ( Bombs away )
What will you do ( Bombs away )
Save the freedom ( Bombs away )
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