We are just a child
we are just a child
we are wide awake
but our legs are shaky
we're unaware
we're hyper-active
we stare into space with grims on our faces
so give us what we're asking for
cause either way, we're gonna take it
our power doesn't run on nothing
we need the land you're standing on so lets go
move it


we are old as hell
we are old and tell the children
when to kill and when to sit still
everyone doing what we say
till our dieing day, till our breath is empty
so give us what we're asking for
cause either way we're gonna take it
our power doesn't run on nothing
we need the land you're standing on so
lets go
move it
yeah you need to let it go
move it

yeah we're, more equal,
we'll move you people,
off the planet cause we need the fuel

so, so let the beat roll over,
the beat roll over, everyone in line, one in line

so, so let the beat roll over,
the beat roll over, everyone in line
one at a time

they'll give us what we're asking for,
cause god is with us, and our god's the richest
our power doesn't run on nothing,
it runs on blood,
and blood is easy to obtain when you have no shame
when you have no shame

so let the sun bathe
let the sun bathe
we'll still have life, we'll burn even brighter
we'll drain the well, turn all to hell,
leave the earth's surface to the worthless dirt
let the beat roll over, let the beat roll over,
to everyone in mind, everyone in line
you think we'll cease?
you see a reason,
you think it's fair?
to think it's fair,
you think we care?


Lyrics submitted by Teffa_Bob

Power Doesn't Run On Nothing song meanings
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15 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment
    this is the best song by this band "our power doesn't run on nothing, it runs on blood, and blood is easy to obtain when you have no shame when you have no shame" best lyric from any song of all time
    deceptionon December 09, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    The song is indeed freakin' awesome, no doubt. At first listen, I thought it was about a plea to American kids to take some action, but then it was obviously a song about our ol' US oil lust. I'm trying to figure out the meaning behind the "we are just a child" and "we are old as hell." Maybe it's saying that America is acting like the wise elder and the whiny kid at the same time? Or something like that? Kick-ass album. The Thermals step it up a little more with each release.
    agentzx3on December 25, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    the first verse under "we are just a child" refers to the mass of Americans. Unaware and a bit clueless. The lyrics make it pretty obvious how he feels about them. The second verse is more in relation to our policies, foreign and domestic. 'old as hell' might refer to a sort of basic evil or more probably a comparison of our policies and the bible's version of a satanic evil. Its helpful to remember with this whole album that Harris isn't referring to America as it is now, but as it might be under a religio-fascist government. Its more a warning than a description
    jiduthieon January 04, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    "So let the sun fade Let the sun fade We'll still have light We'll burn even brighter We'll drain the well tunnel to hell And leave the earth's surface to the worthless and dirt Let the beat roll over, the beat roll over Everyone in line, everyone in line Do you think we'll cease to find a reason To think its fair, to think its fair To think we care?"
    EJohns88on January 06, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    Ejohns88's lyrics for the last bit are much closer to the actual words, if not completely accurate. what a great tune!
    dougerion April 24, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    grims should be grins
    pandora_ash_avalieon June 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    grims should be grins
    pandora_ash_avalieon June 05, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    To me this song is about how as people get older they come up with more elaborate rationalizations for their actions, but in the end, we do the same selfish things we did as kids. In that context, this song isn't necessarily only about America. Instead, it's about a more general human behavioral pattern that everyone the world over should be wary of both in themselves and in others.
    distopiandreamguyon December 07, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    * So let the sun fade Let the sun fade We'll still have light We'll burn even brighter We'll drain the well tunnel to hell And leave the earth's surface to the worthless and dirt Let the beat roll over, the beat roll over Everyone in line, everyone in line To think we'll cease to find a reason To think its fair, to think its fair To think we care?
    chemicaldanon August 13, 2009   Link
  • 0
    General Comment
    American greed... We are just a child symbolizes that we are so selfish and stupid i'm guessing.
    BingoGuyon August 19, 2009   Link

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