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.
Guess we came up in a ghost town.
Now all those buildings have burned down.
Another price to be paid for being free.
It's getting harder to see now that the lights have all gone out.
Can't pay for the electricity.
And all along they've been saying nothing new to me.
Lately, seems right is wrong and wrong is everything we need maybe.
And still the beds are burning, burning in our sleep.
Take me away from everything I see.
There's gunshots on the dancefloor.
Please tell me what do we die for?
And by the way, yesterday, bet you were me.
Seen hard days, probably see more.
There's police at the front door saying
"by the way, yesterday, heard you were free."
And all along they've been saying nothing new to me.
Lately, seems right is wrong and wrong is everything we need maybe.
And still the beds are burning, burning in our sleep.
Take me away from everything I see.
And we'll dance on the ashes of what's left,
as long as these hearts beat in our chests.
And we fell through the railings and pavements,
while I wondered if they get what I get.
And I promise you I won't be leaving,
without taking you when I go.
See the price of belief's in believing.
Anywhere that we go we'll sing this same old song.
And we'll be standing singing.
As if it's life we're living.
As if it's blood we're spilling.
As if we're leaving here some day.
Now all those buildings have burned down.
Another price to be paid for being free.
It's getting harder to see now that the lights have all gone out.
Can't pay for the electricity.
And all along they've been saying nothing new to me.
Lately, seems right is wrong and wrong is everything we need maybe.
And still the beds are burning, burning in our sleep.
Take me away from everything I see.
There's gunshots on the dancefloor.
Please tell me what do we die for?
And by the way, yesterday, bet you were me.
Seen hard days, probably see more.
There's police at the front door saying
"by the way, yesterday, heard you were free."
And all along they've been saying nothing new to me.
Lately, seems right is wrong and wrong is everything we need maybe.
And still the beds are burning, burning in our sleep.
Take me away from everything I see.
And we'll dance on the ashes of what's left,
as long as these hearts beat in our chests.
And we fell through the railings and pavements,
while I wondered if they get what I get.
And I promise you I won't be leaving,
without taking you when I go.
See the price of belief's in believing.
Anywhere that we go we'll sing this same old song.
And we'll be standing singing.
As if it's life we're living.
As if it's blood we're spilling.
As if we're leaving here some day.
Lyrics submitted by blom
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This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
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This song is written as the perspective of the boys in the street, as a whole, and what path they are going to choose as they get older and grow into men. (This is why the music video takes place in an orphanage.) The seen, and unseen collective suffering is imbedded in the boys’ mind, consciously or subconsciously, and is haunting them. Which path will the boys choose? Issac Hayes is the voice of reason, maybe God, the angel on his shoulder, or the voice of his forefathers from beyond the grave who can see the big picture and are pleading with the boys not to continue the violence and pattern of killing their brothers, but to rise above. The most beautiful song and has so many levels. Racism towards African Americans in America would not exist if everyone sat down and listened to this song and understood the history behind the words. The power, fear, pleading in RZA and Ghostface voices are genuine and powerful. Issac Hayes’ strong voice makes the perfect strong father figure, who is possibly from beyond the grave.
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This reminds me of the war in Iraq. And how many people feel that it has cost them and us alot to set them "free."
This reminds me of the war in Iraq. And how many people feel that it has cost them and us alot to set them "free."
i love this song
This is a political and environmental song.
musicislife was right in a way, however it is not a specific statement. The two major themes of the song are global warming and freedom.
So to an extent it is about current political climate regarding war, hence the "The price for being free"
Global warming etc comes into play with the "And all along they've been saying nothing new to me. Lately, seems right is wrong and wrong is everything we need maybe."
What follows convinces me more of that fact as this is a nice but blatant reference to midnight oil "And still the beds are burning, burning in our sleep" (see beds are burning)
The song sort of breaks out saying we/he will survive and dance ont he ashes of whats left, whether this be due to war or environmental issues
dude sorry but I do not think this song has anything to do with global warming hahah<br /> though i have no interpretation on exactly what he is saying, this song is still incredibly amazing
This is a political and environmental song.
musicislife was right in a way, however it is not a specific statement. The two major themes of the song are global warming and freedom.
So to an extent it is about current political climate regarding war, hence the "The price for being free"
Global warming etc comes into play with the "And all along they've been saying nothing new to me. Lately, seems right is wrong and wrong is everything we need maybe."
What follows convinces me more of that fact as this is a nice but blatant reference to midnight oil "And still the beds are burning, burning in our sleep" (see beds are burning)
The song sort of breaks out saying we/he will survive and dance ont he ashes of whats left, whether this be due to war or environmental issues
Also meant to add that beds are burning is a song about saying sorry to the aborigines and making amends for the past.
That may also be a sub-theme of this song
I saw them at the Stone Pony is Asbury Park, NJ this past week and he said that he wrote this song in Asbury Park about Asbury Park. I think he said he wrote two years ago from 11/07 (so 11/05 which was when they were last there) was wondering if anyone could elaborate on what this could mean. Asbury Park is a pretty bad place that is kind of dying like the ghost town part in the beginning of the song. Also the obvious theres gunshots on the dance floor, police at the front door (like literally something violent happened at the show). I think the meaning could lie in the fact that Asbury Park is kind of a run down place and is kind of a by product of the freedom of our capatalist society and the extreme of rich and poor in the modern world. Great Song, figured I'd share this and see if anyone knew something more.
I thought they had rebuilt Asbury Park. I spent a weekend there as a child at its height (perhaps) and have great memories of the place. I recall when it later deteriorated...gang violence; arson; businesses closing, etc. Very sad. When I was there both rich and poor enjoyed the place, which is what made it stand out in my mind as the hub of indivualism, not capitalism or segregation.
Read Wiki because it has rebuilt and rebounded. When it had tanked gays came in and bought up a great deal of property. Some clubs were opened and revitalization began. They are still building up the area. From the article it is doing quite well. Sad that the pier will no longer exist. I had so much fun on it with all the amusement shops. I was very young, but I still remember it as one of my best trips. Not a big Springsteen fan, but like his mention of the place in his song...