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.
Don't sleep 'til the sunrise, listen to the falling rain
Don't worry 'bout tomorrow, don't worry 'bout your pain
Don't cry unless you're happy, don't smile unless you're blue
Never let that lonely monster take control of you
[Chorus]
Be glad that you are free
Free to change your mind
Free to go most anywhere, anytime
Be glad that you are free
There's many a man who's not
Be glad for what you had baby, what you've got
Be glad for what you've got
I know your heart is beating, my drummer tells me so
If you take your life for granted, your beating heart will go
So don't sleep until you're guilty, cause sinners all are we
There's others doing far worse than us, so be glad that you are free
[Chorus]
Soldiers are a marching, they're writing brand new laws
Will we all fight together for the most important cause?
Will we all fight for the right to be free?
Free (Be glad that you are free)
Free to change my mind (Free to change your mind)
Free to go most anywhere, anytime (Free to go most anywhere,anytime)
I'm just glad, I'm just glad I'm free, yeah (Be glad that you are free)
There's many a man who's not (There's many a man who's not)
Glad for what I had baby, (Be glad for what you had and)
Glad for what I got, oh yeah (for what you've got)
Oh I'm just glad, I'm just glad I'm free,yeah (Be glad that you are free)
Free to change my mind (Free to change your mind)
Free to go most anywhere, anytime (Free to go most anywhere, anytime)
(Be glad that you are free)
(There's many a man who's not)
I'm so (Be glad for what you had and for)
(what you've got)
Don't worry 'bout tomorrow, don't worry 'bout your pain
Don't cry unless you're happy, don't smile unless you're blue
Never let that lonely monster take control of you
[Chorus]
Be glad that you are free
Free to change your mind
Free to go most anywhere, anytime
Be glad that you are free
There's many a man who's not
Be glad for what you had baby, what you've got
Be glad for what you've got
I know your heart is beating, my drummer tells me so
If you take your life for granted, your beating heart will go
So don't sleep until you're guilty, cause sinners all are we
There's others doing far worse than us, so be glad that you are free
[Chorus]
Soldiers are a marching, they're writing brand new laws
Will we all fight together for the most important cause?
Will we all fight for the right to be free?
Free (Be glad that you are free)
Free to change my mind (Free to change your mind)
Free to go most anywhere, anytime (Free to go most anywhere,anytime)
I'm just glad, I'm just glad I'm free, yeah (Be glad that you are free)
There's many a man who's not (There's many a man who's not)
Glad for what I had baby, (Be glad for what you had and)
Glad for what I got, oh yeah (for what you've got)
Oh I'm just glad, I'm just glad I'm free,yeah (Be glad that you are free)
Free to change my mind (Free to change your mind)
Free to go most anywhere, anytime (Free to go most anywhere, anytime)
(Be glad that you are free)
(There's many a man who's not)
I'm so (Be glad for what you had and for)
(what you've got)
Lyrics submitted by Gothy_Bura, edited by ladyamanda
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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