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.
Are you a man of peace
Or a man of holy war?
Too many sides to you
Don't know which anymore
So many full of life
But also filled with pain
Don't know just how many
Will live to breathe again
A life that's made to breathe
Destruction or defense
A mind that's vain corruption
Bad or good intent
A wolf in sheep's clothing
Or saintly or sinner
Or some that would believe
A holy war winner
They fire off many shots
And many parting blows
Their actions beyond a reasoning
Only God would know
And as he lies in heaven
Or it could be in hell
I feel he's somewhere here
Or looking from below
But I don't know, I don't know
Please tell me now what life is
Please tell me now what love is
Well, tell me now what war is
Again, tell me what life is
More pain and misery in the history of mankind
Sometimes it seems more like
The blind leading the blind
It brings upon us more of famine, death and war
You know religion has a lot to answer for
Please tell me now what life is
Please tell me now what love is
Well, tell me now what war is
Again, tell me what life is
And as they search to find
The bodies in the sand
They find its ashes that are
Scattered across the land
And as the spirits seem to whistle on the wind
A shot is fired somewhere another war begins
And all because of it
You'd think that we would learn
But still the body count the city fires burn
Somewhere there's someone dying
In a foreign land
Meanwhile the world is crying
Stupidity of man
Tell me why?
Tell me why?
Please tell me now what life is
Please tell me now what love is
Well, tell me now what war is
Again, tell me what life is
Please tell me now what life is
Please tell me now what love is
Well, tell me now what war is
Again, tell me what life is
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
Please tell me now what life is
Please tell me now what love is
Well, tell me now what war is
Again, tell me what life is
Please tell me now what life is
Please tell me now what love is
Well, tell me now what war is
Again, tell me what life is
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
He gave his life for us
He fell upon the cross
To die for all of those
Who never mourn his loss
It wasn't meant for us
To feel the pain again
Tell me why?
Tell me why?
Or a man of holy war?
Too many sides to you
Don't know which anymore
So many full of life
But also filled with pain
Don't know just how many
Will live to breathe again
A life that's made to breathe
Destruction or defense
A mind that's vain corruption
Bad or good intent
A wolf in sheep's clothing
Or saintly or sinner
Or some that would believe
A holy war winner
They fire off many shots
And many parting blows
Their actions beyond a reasoning
Only God would know
And as he lies in heaven
Or it could be in hell
I feel he's somewhere here
Or looking from below
But I don't know, I don't know
Please tell me now what life is
Please tell me now what love is
Well, tell me now what war is
Again, tell me what life is
More pain and misery in the history of mankind
Sometimes it seems more like
The blind leading the blind
It brings upon us more of famine, death and war
You know religion has a lot to answer for
Please tell me now what life is
Please tell me now what love is
Well, tell me now what war is
Again, tell me what life is
And as they search to find
The bodies in the sand
They find its ashes that are
Scattered across the land
And as the spirits seem to whistle on the wind
A shot is fired somewhere another war begins
And all because of it
You'd think that we would learn
But still the body count the city fires burn
Somewhere there's someone dying
In a foreign land
Meanwhile the world is crying
Stupidity of man
Tell me why?
Tell me why?
Please tell me now what life is
Please tell me now what love is
Well, tell me now what war is
Again, tell me what life is
Please tell me now what life is
Please tell me now what love is
Well, tell me now what war is
Again, tell me what life is
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
Please tell me now what life is
Please tell me now what love is
Well, tell me now what war is
Again, tell me what life is
Please tell me now what life is
Please tell me now what love is
Well, tell me now what war is
Again, tell me what life is
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
For the greater good of God
He gave his life for us
He fell upon the cross
To die for all of those
Who never mourn his loss
It wasn't meant for us
To feel the pain again
Tell me why?
Tell me why?
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i see allot of people saying stuff like "its about how religion causes problems" not only do i disagree that religion causes problems, but i also disagree that its what the song says.
i think the song is saying "God would not approve". i think it is written to all of those who say "for the greater good of God" and then do something that is totally unchristianlike.
ill go about breaking this down: "Are you a man of peace Or a man of holy war Too many sides to you Don't know which anymore So many full of life But also filled with pain Don't know just how many Will live to breathe again"
i think this part is him speculating like allot of uncertain people would about whether or not God is a good God, or a violent one. i think it has allot to do with people saying "Im on God's side" and then doing terrible things (ill call them pharisees from now on). i think it brings up the issue of people rejecting God, because of people who say they are of God, and do terrible things. etc.
"Please tell me now what life is Please tell me now what love is Well tell me now what war is Again tell me what life is"
i believe this part is the main sting of the song. someone earlier said they dont like this, but i think its more than beautiful. i think it is him saying to the pharisees of our day.. i think he is using the Socratic method here to prove his point. i think he is trying to get them to come to the conclusion that war is the opposite of love, and kills life.
"He gave his life for us He fell upon the cross To die for all of those who never mourn his loss It wasn't meant for us to feel the pain again Tell me why, tell me why "
i think this is the closing of the argument. he is pointing out that God is a God of love, and that he would go out, and die, for people who would disrespect and spit on him - go through agony. i think this parallels the point about war, that Christianity is about turning the other cheek, going through hell and back for the same people that kill you. if you lived by this motto, you wouldnt ever really participate in a war.
i think the "for the greater good of God" is him kind of mocking the pharisees who say these things with condescension (if you dont notice it, the way he vocalizes this part is rather harsh, sounds like he is putting anger through it).
i think the motto of the song basically is: God is a God of love. If you are going to do something in the name of God, you better make damn good sure its something God would approve of.
@sniktawekim <br /> The main part of the song seems to be "For the greater good of God"<br /> In other words, it is about those that believe that all that they do is for their god, and about how they never seem to truly question why.<br /> <br /> "Only God would know<br /> And as he lies in heaven<br /> Or it could be in hell<br /> I feel he's somewhere here<br /> Or looking from below<br /> But I don't know, I don't know"<br /> <br /> This seems to imply that God could be anywhere, but at the same time doubts that.<br /> <br /> "More pain and misery in the history of mankind<br /> Sometimes it seems more like<br /> The blind leading the blind<br /> It brings upon us more famine, death and war<br /> You know religion has a lot to answer for"<br /> <br /> People cannot see that religions do not add up with what they say, and so they follow others that cannot see that either.<br /> In the end, what was the point of those religions?<br /> What will their answers be to the many problems that they have created or furthered?<br /> <br /> The ending seems to point out that Jesus' death achieved no relief from the suffering, and it asks, "Why? Why are all of these problems still around if he died to save us?"
@sniktawekim The song IS a criticism of religion. It questions the hipocrisy of holy men and religious people who use "for the greater good of god" as the answer to the most profound questions. Questions always asked before the song repeats "for the greater good of god" x8. While it is a hard hit against organized religion, the song is not aiming at faith itself. It manages to both criticize organized religion and showcase the inner struggle of the religious person observing the world around them and looking for answers they are not sure exist. The ending is the final strike on both fronts. It points the finger at organized religion for spitting in christ's grave by acting like they act and also shows us the struggle to understand suffering even after Christ's sacrifice. <br /> <br /> Harris is not shallow enough to send a message of "god is love". He is a realist.. The song questions where god is when these things are happening, and it's yet another area where the religious have to struggle.