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.
Shelley’s right, she called the shots,
she had the monster fleshed out
both hideous and intricate,
created? yes; commanded? never
Send it out across the land,
grim victory bringer
but killing gales breed deadly cells
that spread unknown against the master’s will
It’s Alive; warm blood
runs through its veins and to its core,
disgusted and appalled by what it’s for
Hell-bent on destroying he who gave it life
and making fast his plans to come home
(And the fall out shelter that I've built for years
has proven obsolete; the blasts they find me
And playing God, I must admit, ain't all that it's
cracked up to be)
It’s crude, aberrant parts decay,
its power horrifying
A scary story comes to life,
outside your door the bombs start dropping
Emphatic, fierce, familiar fire,
we recognize your contours
A great celestial thunderclap
locked on one modern day Prometheus
It’s Alive; warm blood
runs through its veins and to its core,
disgusted and appalled by what it’s for
Hell-bent on recompense…
(And the fallout shelter that I’ve built for years
has done nothing; it burns
And playing God, I must admit, ain't all that it's
cracked up to be)
Like a summer rain it fell, washed away the gates of hell
let all who want in in, let all who want out…
Outbreak, radiate, consume,
count the dead and mend the wounds,
The ash gray sky it shows no hint of night or...
Daybreak comes without a crow,
atomic winds and cremate snow
The masses falsely…
Accuser, have you claimed your prize,
pain stained frenzied in your eyes
Your death, it vindicates and qualifies your…
Life forms, numbers dwindling fast in this race to be the last
It’s Alive; warm blood
runs through its veins and to its core,
disgusted and appalled by what it’s for
Hell-bent on destroying he who gave it life
and making fast his plans to come home
It's Alive
(And the fall out shelter that I've built for years
has proven obsolete; the blasts they find me
And playing God, I must admit, ain't all that it's
cracked up to be
It's Alive)
she had the monster fleshed out
both hideous and intricate,
created? yes; commanded? never
Send it out across the land,
grim victory bringer
but killing gales breed deadly cells
that spread unknown against the master’s will
It’s Alive; warm blood
runs through its veins and to its core,
disgusted and appalled by what it’s for
Hell-bent on destroying he who gave it life
and making fast his plans to come home
(And the fall out shelter that I've built for years
has proven obsolete; the blasts they find me
And playing God, I must admit, ain't all that it's
cracked up to be)
It’s crude, aberrant parts decay,
its power horrifying
A scary story comes to life,
outside your door the bombs start dropping
Emphatic, fierce, familiar fire,
we recognize your contours
A great celestial thunderclap
locked on one modern day Prometheus
It’s Alive; warm blood
runs through its veins and to its core,
disgusted and appalled by what it’s for
Hell-bent on recompense…
(And the fallout shelter that I’ve built for years
has done nothing; it burns
And playing God, I must admit, ain't all that it's
cracked up to be)
Like a summer rain it fell, washed away the gates of hell
let all who want in in, let all who want out…
Outbreak, radiate, consume,
count the dead and mend the wounds,
The ash gray sky it shows no hint of night or...
Daybreak comes without a crow,
atomic winds and cremate snow
The masses falsely…
Accuser, have you claimed your prize,
pain stained frenzied in your eyes
Your death, it vindicates and qualifies your…
Life forms, numbers dwindling fast in this race to be the last
It’s Alive; warm blood
runs through its veins and to its core,
disgusted and appalled by what it’s for
Hell-bent on destroying he who gave it life
and making fast his plans to come home
It's Alive
(And the fall out shelter that I've built for years
has proven obsolete; the blasts they find me
And playing God, I must admit, ain't all that it's
cracked up to be
It's Alive)
Lyrics submitted by nba1341
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