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.
Don't
Be...
Silent
Fight
(Violence, mêlées, & disturbances of the peace)
Here's your introduction to destruction
& the hate sustaining me
Are we safer or in danger?
Drowning in atrocities?
Riot gear, the slaves are here
Piling corpses high
Its the rich man's war
But its the poor that fight
More capitalist crimes,
More enemies than allies
No WMD's, who gives a fuck
If they die
Just kill em all, watch em fall
Skin the world with their lies
Its a rich man's war
But its the poor that fight
[Chorus]
Stand up
Speak out
Strike back
Stand up
Speak out
Strike back
They don't know
What they started
Confrontation
[Verse 2]
My religion of resistance
Challenging everything
Radicals & dissidents
Of creativity
We are the children
Of the siege you hide
In this rich man's war
Where the poor just die
More deception & greed
More wars & disease
More lies from the hive mind
That seek to deceive
A weak nation of need
Like silent thieves in the night
Its a rich man's war
But it's the poor that die
[Chorus]
Stand, fight
Speak, fight
Strike back!
Stand, fight
Speak, fight
Strike back!
They don't know
What they started
Confrontation
[Bridge]
This is my
Battle cry!
Defy the lies
Of the tyrant race
With a fist in the air
& a finger in their face!
Defy the tyrants!
Don't be silent!
Defy the tyrants!
Don't be silent!
Defy the tyrants!
Don't be silent!
Defy the tyrants!
Don't be silent!
[Chorus]
Stand, fight
Speak, fight
Strike back!
Stand, fight
Speak, fight
Strike back!
They don't know
What they started
Confrontation
[Outro]
There's no
Way they
Can stop us
Now
So let them try
We fight or we die
Be...
Silent
Fight
(Violence, mêlées, & disturbances of the peace)
Here's your introduction to destruction
& the hate sustaining me
Are we safer or in danger?
Drowning in atrocities?
Riot gear, the slaves are here
Piling corpses high
Its the rich man's war
But its the poor that fight
More capitalist crimes,
More enemies than allies
No WMD's, who gives a fuck
If they die
Just kill em all, watch em fall
Skin the world with their lies
Its a rich man's war
But its the poor that fight
[Chorus]
Stand up
Speak out
Strike back
Stand up
Speak out
Strike back
They don't know
What they started
Confrontation
[Verse 2]
My religion of resistance
Challenging everything
Radicals & dissidents
Of creativity
We are the children
Of the siege you hide
In this rich man's war
Where the poor just die
More deception & greed
More wars & disease
More lies from the hive mind
That seek to deceive
A weak nation of need
Like silent thieves in the night
Its a rich man's war
But it's the poor that die
[Chorus]
Stand, fight
Speak, fight
Strike back!
Stand, fight
Speak, fight
Strike back!
They don't know
What they started
Confrontation
[Bridge]
This is my
Battle cry!
Defy the lies
Of the tyrant race
With a fist in the air
& a finger in their face!
Defy the tyrants!
Don't be silent!
Defy the tyrants!
Don't be silent!
Defy the tyrants!
Don't be silent!
Defy the tyrants!
Don't be silent!
[Chorus]
Stand, fight
Speak, fight
Strike back!
Stand, fight
Speak, fight
Strike back!
They don't know
What they started
Confrontation
[Outro]
There's no
Way they
Can stop us
Now
So let them try
We fight or we die
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love there anti war and bush songs they re so funny cause i totally hate bush and the war