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.
They said protect and you'll survive-- (but our postman didn't call)
8lbs. of over-pressure wave seemed to glue him to the wall
They said protect and you'll survive
E.M.P. took out the radio-- (and our milk-man didn't call)
Flash blinded by the pretty lights, didn't see his bottles fall
Or feel the warm black rain arrive
Big friendly cloud builds in the West (and our dust-men haven't called)
They left the dual carriageway at a hundred miles an hour--
A tail wind chasing them away
And in deep shelters lurk below, sub-regional control
Who sympathize but cannot help to mend your body or your soul
Self-appointed guardians of the race with egg upon their face
When steady sirens sing all-clear they pop up, find nobody here
And so I watch two new suns spin-- (our paper man doesn't call)
Burnt shadow printed on the road-- now there's nothing there at all
They said protect and you'll survive
8lbs. of over-pressure wave seemed to glue him to the wall
They said protect and you'll survive
E.M.P. took out the radio-- (and our milk-man didn't call)
Flash blinded by the pretty lights, didn't see his bottles fall
Or feel the warm black rain arrive
Big friendly cloud builds in the West (and our dust-men haven't called)
They left the dual carriageway at a hundred miles an hour--
A tail wind chasing them away
And in deep shelters lurk below, sub-regional control
Who sympathize but cannot help to mend your body or your soul
Self-appointed guardians of the race with egg upon their face
When steady sirens sing all-clear they pop up, find nobody here
And so I watch two new suns spin-- (our paper man doesn't call)
Burnt shadow printed on the road-- now there's nothing there at all
They said protect and you'll survive
Lyrics submitted by inpraiseoffolly
Protect and Survive Lyrics as written by Ian Anderson
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"Protect and Survive" was a set of public information issued by the British government in the 1970s and 1980s, giving advice about preparations in case of nuclear war. The song contrasts the promise implied ("They said protect and you'll survive") with the reality of nuclear war, illustrated by the destruction of all the people who formed part of the British daily routine - the postman, the milkman, the dustmen (refuse collectors), the postman - each of whom fails to show up at the expected time, having been gruesomely killed by the effects of the nuclear attack - "eight pounds of over-pressure wave", "flash-blinded", reduced to a shadow on the road, or blasted off the road by high winds.
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