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.
Rome never looks where she treads
Always her heavy hooves fall
On our stomachs, our hearts, or our heads
And Rome never heeds when we call
Her sentries pass on "that is all"
And we gather behind them in hordes
And plot to reconquer their wall
With only our tongues for our swords
For we are the little folk, we!
Too little to love or to hate
Leave us alone and you'll see
How we can drag down the state
Mistletoe killing, an oak
Rats gnawing cables in two
Moths making holes in our coats
How they must love what they do
Yes and we little folk too
We are as busy as they
Working our works out of view
Watch and you'll see it someday
For we are the little folk we
Too little to love or to hate
Leave us alone and you'll see
How we can drag down the state
Yes it is true we are not strong
But we know of Peoples that are
Yes and we'll guide them along
To smash and destroy you in war
We should be slaves just the same
Yes we have always been slaves
But you, you will die of the shame
And then we shall dance on your graves
For we are the little folk we
Too little to love or to hate
Leave us alone and you'll see
How we can drag down the state
We are the worm in the wood
We are the rot at the roof
We are the taint in the blood
We are the thorn in the foot
Always her heavy hooves fall
On our stomachs, our hearts, or our heads
And Rome never heeds when we call
Her sentries pass on "that is all"
And we gather behind them in hordes
And plot to reconquer their wall
With only our tongues for our swords
For we are the little folk, we!
Too little to love or to hate
Leave us alone and you'll see
How we can drag down the state
Mistletoe killing, an oak
Rats gnawing cables in two
Moths making holes in our coats
How they must love what they do
Yes and we little folk too
We are as busy as they
Working our works out of view
Watch and you'll see it someday
For we are the little folk we
Too little to love or to hate
Leave us alone and you'll see
How we can drag down the state
Yes it is true we are not strong
But we know of Peoples that are
Yes and we'll guide them along
To smash and destroy you in war
We should be slaves just the same
Yes we have always been slaves
But you, you will die of the shame
And then we shall dance on your graves
For we are the little folk we
Too little to love or to hate
Leave us alone and you'll see
How we can drag down the state
We are the worm in the wood
We are the rot at the roof
We are the taint in the blood
We are the thorn in the foot
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