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.
Sound the bells and take to the streets in arms
We're descending fast, a pox on your house of cards
Dry your eyes, your daughters have lost their faith
And started feeding upon the bait that we wear on our sleeve
Promise us you won't tell the public the fury with which we despoil
I've got a wife and kids and a hybrid car
I've got a good life and I can't risk losing
If you can keep it a secret then me and the boys will bring pale hell to this town
We're trouble bound and we summon the devil electric
Prey on the faint of heart
We sing praises of the rebels who went by the book
Gravitate to teenagers artlessness'
And sing it aloud.the content is trivial
Its pillow talk is plagiarized by the gadgets of lust
Just go to sleep, leave the gestures and customs to us
Cry fraud and let play the anthem of war
Cry fraud and let play the anthem of war
Boys stand your ground, keep the delicate fingers but wrath in your white knuckled grip
The film is loaded and it's aimed at the whites in their eyes
You put out to get in, and we slipped right past the guards in the belly of a horse
We sunk our fangs into the pulp of a desperate angst
We're powerless just until we're invited inside
If you can keep it a secret then me and the boys will bring pale hell to this town
We're trouble bound and we summon the devil electric
Prey on the faint of heart, we owe thanks to the revels who went by the book
Don't give up the ship, don't give up the ship
We'd rather sink than admit it, don't give up the ship
We only have one night in town
We're descending fast, a pox on your house of cards
Dry your eyes, your daughters have lost their faith
And started feeding upon the bait that we wear on our sleeve
Promise us you won't tell the public the fury with which we despoil
I've got a wife and kids and a hybrid car
I've got a good life and I can't risk losing
If you can keep it a secret then me and the boys will bring pale hell to this town
We're trouble bound and we summon the devil electric
Prey on the faint of heart
We sing praises of the rebels who went by the book
Gravitate to teenagers artlessness'
And sing it aloud.the content is trivial
Its pillow talk is plagiarized by the gadgets of lust
Just go to sleep, leave the gestures and customs to us
Cry fraud and let play the anthem of war
Cry fraud and let play the anthem of war
Boys stand your ground, keep the delicate fingers but wrath in your white knuckled grip
The film is loaded and it's aimed at the whites in their eyes
You put out to get in, and we slipped right past the guards in the belly of a horse
We sunk our fangs into the pulp of a desperate angst
We're powerless just until we're invited inside
If you can keep it a secret then me and the boys will bring pale hell to this town
We're trouble bound and we summon the devil electric
Prey on the faint of heart, we owe thanks to the revels who went by the book
Don't give up the ship, don't give up the ship
We'd rather sink than admit it, don't give up the ship
We only have one night in town
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"Rebels without applause. I sell my shadow to those who are standing in it" -the song Mutilation Is The Most Sincere Form Of Flattery by Marilyn Manson
...Which is in itself a play on the title of the famous movie: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebel_Without_a_Cause
Cry fraud and let play the anthem of war. "Cry 'Havoc!', and let slip the dogs of war" is a line in Julius Caesar by Shakespeare
The film is loaded and it's aimed at the whites in their eyes. "Don't shoot until you see the whites of their eyes!" was shouted out at the: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bunker_Hill
And we slipped right past the guards in the belly of a horse. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_Horse
"We're powerless just until we're invited inside" An old vampire rumor is that they can not harm you unless you invite them in.
If you can keep it a secret then me and the boys will bring pale hell to this town. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hell_Comes_to_Frogtown maybe?
We're trouble bound and we summon the devil electric. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_Electric
Or maybe en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Sing_the_BodyElectric%28The_Twilight_Zone%29