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.
Well I see him on the TV
Preachin' 'bout the promised lands
He tells me to believe in Jesus
And steals the money from my hand
Some say he was a good man
But Lord I think he sinned, yeah
Twenty-two years of mental tears
Cries a suicidal Vietnam vet
Who fought a losing war on a foreign shore
To find his country didn't want him back
Their bullets took his best friend in Saigon
Our lawyers took his wife and kids
No regrets
In a time I don't remember
In a war he can't forget
He cried, "Forgive me for
What I've done there
'Cause I never meant the things I did"
And give me something to believe in
If there's a Lord above
And give me something to believe in
Oh, Lord arise
My best friend died a lonely man
In some Palm Springs hotel room
I got the call last Christmas Eve
And they told me the news
I tried all night not to break down and cry
As the tears rolled down my face
I felt so cold and empty
Like a lost soul out of place
And the mirror, mirror on the wall
Sees my smile it fades again
And give me something to believe in
If there's a Lord above
And give me something to believe in, oh Lord
Sometimes I wish to God
I didn't know now
The things I didn't know then
Road, you gotta take me home
I drive by the homeless sleeping on
A cold dark street
Like bodies in an open grave
Underneath the broken old neon sign
That used to read
Jesus Saves
A mile away live the rich folks
And I see how they're living it up
While the poor they eat from hand to mouth
The rich is drinkin' from a golden cup
And it just makes me wonder
Why so many lose, so few win
And give me something to believe in
And give me something to believe in
If there's a Lord above
And give me something to believe in, oh Lord
And give me something to believe in
And give me something to believe in
You take the high road
And I'll take the low road
And give me something to believe in
And give me something to believe in
Yeah sometimes I wish I didn't know now
The things I didn't know then, yeah
And give me something to believe in, yeah, yeah
Preachin' 'bout the promised lands
He tells me to believe in Jesus
And steals the money from my hand
Some say he was a good man
But Lord I think he sinned, yeah
Twenty-two years of mental tears
Cries a suicidal Vietnam vet
Who fought a losing war on a foreign shore
To find his country didn't want him back
Their bullets took his best friend in Saigon
Our lawyers took his wife and kids
No regrets
In a time I don't remember
In a war he can't forget
He cried, "Forgive me for
What I've done there
'Cause I never meant the things I did"
And give me something to believe in
If there's a Lord above
And give me something to believe in
Oh, Lord arise
My best friend died a lonely man
In some Palm Springs hotel room
I got the call last Christmas Eve
And they told me the news
I tried all night not to break down and cry
As the tears rolled down my face
I felt so cold and empty
Like a lost soul out of place
And the mirror, mirror on the wall
Sees my smile it fades again
And give me something to believe in
If there's a Lord above
And give me something to believe in, oh Lord
Sometimes I wish to God
I didn't know now
The things I didn't know then
Road, you gotta take me home
I drive by the homeless sleeping on
A cold dark street
Like bodies in an open grave
Underneath the broken old neon sign
That used to read
Jesus Saves
A mile away live the rich folks
And I see how they're living it up
While the poor they eat from hand to mouth
The rich is drinkin' from a golden cup
And it just makes me wonder
Why so many lose, so few win
And give me something to believe in
And give me something to believe in
If there's a Lord above
And give me something to believe in, oh Lord
And give me something to believe in
And give me something to believe in
You take the high road
And I'll take the low road
And give me something to believe in
And give me something to believe in
Yeah sometimes I wish I didn't know now
The things I didn't know then, yeah
And give me something to believe in, yeah, yeah
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Yay Im the first poster on this song I like poison and cc deville so rock on guys!
i like the orginal better but this one still rocks!