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.
The body lay on fragrant earth under empty skies in an open field,
A shallow grave, unmarked, unnoticed, in crumbling furrows carved by rusted ploughs,
They will bury your empty coffin; they will raise for you a stone,
They will know you fell in glory,
In the corner of some lonely foreign field,
Broken cloud, fleeting shadows, silhouettes are scattered cross the sky,
The hollow laughter fills the heavens,
And echoes round a still and silent field,
Where you have climbed Jacob's ladder; where you saw the light of God,
And from the voices of his angels the Truth was heard, the Truth was heard.
I have slept in the shadows of moonstruck trees,
A mossy pillow my rock of dreams,
The wood smoke lingers among smouldering leaves,
Like my thoughts are carried away on a stiffening breeze
To the domes and spires, the glittering towers
Of palaces of kings and thrones of power,
I will climb Jacob's ladder; I will see the light of God,
I will hear from the tongues of angels his Holy words,
I take the field in honest battle,
My father's sword is sure in hand,
My heart my shield, my dreams my armour,
My banners high my hopes are gathered
Fortunes home I'll surely carry and the bells will ring in honour of my name
Should I falter, should I tarry, should I hesitate, should I fall?
Then bury me in your memories, let our children hear the bugle call,
Let them climb Jacob's ladder; let them see the light of God,
Let them hear from the tongues of angels his Holy words,
Let them take the field.
A shallow grave, unmarked, unnoticed, in crumbling furrows carved by rusted ploughs,
They will bury your empty coffin; they will raise for you a stone,
They will know you fell in glory,
In the corner of some lonely foreign field,
Broken cloud, fleeting shadows, silhouettes are scattered cross the sky,
The hollow laughter fills the heavens,
And echoes round a still and silent field,
Where you have climbed Jacob's ladder; where you saw the light of God,
And from the voices of his angels the Truth was heard, the Truth was heard.
I have slept in the shadows of moonstruck trees,
A mossy pillow my rock of dreams,
The wood smoke lingers among smouldering leaves,
Like my thoughts are carried away on a stiffening breeze
To the domes and spires, the glittering towers
Of palaces of kings and thrones of power,
I will climb Jacob's ladder; I will see the light of God,
I will hear from the tongues of angels his Holy words,
I take the field in honest battle,
My father's sword is sure in hand,
My heart my shield, my dreams my armour,
My banners high my hopes are gathered
Fortunes home I'll surely carry and the bells will ring in honour of my name
Should I falter, should I tarry, should I hesitate, should I fall?
Then bury me in your memories, let our children hear the bugle call,
Let them climb Jacob's ladder; let them see the light of God,
Let them hear from the tongues of angels his Holy words,
Let them take the field.
Lyrics submitted by BitterBosh
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