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.
How cruel is the golden rule
When the lives we lived are only golden-plated?
And I knew that the lights of the city were too heavy for me
And though I carry karats for everyone to see
And I saw God cry in the reflection of my enemies
And all the lovers with no time for me
And all of the mothers raise their babies
To stay away from me
Tongues on the sockets of electric dreams
Where the sewage of youth drowned the spark of my teens
And I knew that the lights of the city were too heavy for me (too heavy for me)
And though I carry karats for everyone to see (everyone to see)
And I saw God cry in the reflection of my enemies
And all the lovers with no time for me
And all of the mothers raise their babies
To stay away from me
And pray they don't grow up to be
When the lives we lived are only golden-plated?
And I knew that the lights of the city were too heavy for me
And though I carry karats for everyone to see
And I saw God cry in the reflection of my enemies
And all the lovers with no time for me
And all of the mothers raise their babies
To stay away from me
Tongues on the sockets of electric dreams
Where the sewage of youth drowned the spark of my teens
And I knew that the lights of the city were too heavy for me (too heavy for me)
And though I carry karats for everyone to see (everyone to see)
And I saw God cry in the reflection of my enemies
And all the lovers with no time for me
And all of the mothers raise their babies
To stay away from me
And pray they don't grow up to be
Lyrics submitted by wendyclear-atticus
Golden Lyrics as written by Joseph Mark Trohman Andrew John Hurley
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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"How cruel is the golden rule, when the lives we lived are only golden plated" The Golden Rule states that one has the right to justice, and has the right to ensure justice for others. Therefore, they're saying that justice is cruel and wrongful. As for the second part, their lives were golden plated because they must have been terrible beforehand, which gives them the need to 'golden plate' them.
"And I knew that the lights of the city were too heavy for me" Even though he knew fame would destroy him, he still went for it.
"Though I carried karats for everyone to see" And he also knew it would destroy him, no matter how much talent he had to give or show.
"And I saw God cry in the reflection of my enemies" I see this a little differently than most. I don't think it means God was crying at the reflection of his enemies, rather, he saw God as the reflection, crying. In other words, every one of his enemies (the people that are fame-induced) is a shame in the eyes of God.
"And all the lovers with no time for me" By lovers, I'm guessing he means potential lovers, who had better things to do than to hook up with a fame-driven musician. (Let it be known, however, that I don't see FOB as fame-driven :P)
"And all of the mothers raise their babies to stay away from me" I don't think this means literal babies, but more like the poeple around them. Since they don't like to associate with people like that, they don't want anyone else to either.
"Tongues on the sockets of electric dreams" In other words, dangerous fantasies. If you think about those dreams too much, they could harm you.
"When the sewage of youth drowned the spark of my teens" It's talking about the electric dreams again. He must've had an overly bad/good experience as a child, which saved him from having/following his 'electric dreams'.