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.
What can I be?
Make me so that I'm right for your society
What do I have to sacrifice?
There is no equal opportunity
Don't even call this your democracy
16,000 hours gone past this year and
No one knows anything
I'm of this earth right from her breath
I'm from this land US, I don't regret
You're telling me to obey what is wrong
I'm gonna defy you, defy you strong.
Defy you strong and on and on and on.
A long time I'll be waiting.
Give a girl a doll and stick her in a dress.
Give a boy a gun teach him how to address
And stick them in their place
Stick them in the place
Keep your system safe
You stick us in your place
Don't you let them bring you down,
Keep your head up, move back on your feet
It is your life that they are looking for
You are infinite so superlative
Let it all go
Won't you let it be?
Let it be.
So what can I be?
Make me so that I'm right for your society
What do I have to sacrifice?
There is no equal opportunity
Don't even call this your democracy
16,000 hours gone past last year
and no, no one knows anything
I'm of this earth right from her breath
I'm of this land US, I don't regret
But if you're telling me I'm doing something wrong
When I'm not I will defy you strong
No matter what nationality
If you're suffering you've got to fight
And I hope my brother's and sister's say
That they're losing their rightsâ?¦
Stick a flag in a school room,
And you make the children pledge
To a country
That was founded on an edge
Of a knife in an Indian skin
Don't even try, don't even begin
Of telling me of your crusader deeds
Your justification step up and lead
Don't you let them bring you down,
Keep your head up, move back on your feet,
And if it's your life that they all been looking for,
You got it infinite so superlative
Let it all go
Won't you let it be?
Let it be
So what can I be?
Make me so that I'm right for your society
What do I have to sacrifice?
There is no equal opportunity
Don't even call this your democracy
16,000 hours gone past last year
and no, no one knows anything
I'm of this earth right from her breath
I'm from this land and I don't regret
But if you're telling me to obey what is wrong
I'm gonna defy you, defy you strong
Defy you strong..
And on and on and onâ?¦.
Long time I'll be waiting..
Long time long time
Long time.. long time.. long timeâ?¦
â?¦I'll be waiting.
Make me so that I'm right for your society
What do I have to sacrifice?
There is no equal opportunity
Don't even call this your democracy
16,000 hours gone past this year and
No one knows anything
I'm of this earth right from her breath
I'm from this land US, I don't regret
You're telling me to obey what is wrong
I'm gonna defy you, defy you strong.
Defy you strong and on and on and on.
A long time I'll be waiting.
Give a girl a doll and stick her in a dress.
Give a boy a gun teach him how to address
And stick them in their place
Stick them in the place
Keep your system safe
You stick us in your place
Don't you let them bring you down,
Keep your head up, move back on your feet
It is your life that they are looking for
You are infinite so superlative
Let it all go
Won't you let it be?
Let it be.
So what can I be?
Make me so that I'm right for your society
What do I have to sacrifice?
There is no equal opportunity
Don't even call this your democracy
16,000 hours gone past last year
and no, no one knows anything
I'm of this earth right from her breath
I'm of this land US, I don't regret
But if you're telling me I'm doing something wrong
When I'm not I will defy you strong
No matter what nationality
If you're suffering you've got to fight
And I hope my brother's and sister's say
That they're losing their rightsâ?¦
Stick a flag in a school room,
And you make the children pledge
To a country
That was founded on an edge
Of a knife in an Indian skin
Don't even try, don't even begin
Of telling me of your crusader deeds
Your justification step up and lead
Don't you let them bring you down,
Keep your head up, move back on your feet,
And if it's your life that they all been looking for,
You got it infinite so superlative
Let it all go
Won't you let it be?
Let it be
So what can I be?
Make me so that I'm right for your society
What do I have to sacrifice?
There is no equal opportunity
Don't even call this your democracy
16,000 hours gone past last year
and no, no one knows anything
I'm of this earth right from her breath
I'm from this land and I don't regret
But if you're telling me to obey what is wrong
I'm gonna defy you, defy you strong
Defy you strong..
And on and on and onâ?¦.
Long time I'll be waiting..
Long time long time
Long time.. long time.. long timeâ?¦
â?¦I'll be waiting.
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Cant believe this song wasnt on here before..so thought id upload it!..Bloody epic song! Not to sure on the meanings..there so many in there.Rekon its somehting to do with politics etc! But defo packs heaps of emotion!!Shame he dint play it live :( Defo on a par with What You Want