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.
We are the dregs
Of the western world
The steroid boys and video girls
We are the viral internet stars
And the anchor man
Can't stop crying
We are the dead with
The dreaded disease
The nuclear sons for you and me
Let's go all right all right let's go
What the fuck are you saying?
Now I don't wanna
Live here anymore
(Gonna watch it burn)
We are the best
And we'll fight to the death
'Till there's nothing left
Worth fighting for
In the western world
This is the end of evolution's rise
The feeding frenzy of the uncivilized
The paparazzi parasites
And the vultures can't stop feeding
This is the face of our vanity
The tabloid death of inhumanity
Let's go all right all right let's go
What the fuck are you saying?
Now I don't wanna
Live here anymore
(Gonna watch it burn)
We take the best
And we spit out the rest
And always leave them
Wanting more.
In the western world
We are the dregs
Of the western world
The steroid boys and video girls
We are the viral internet stars
And the anchor man
Can't stop lying
We are the dead with
The dreaded disease
The nuclear sons for you and me
Let's go all right all right let's go
What the fuck are you saying?
Now I don't wanna
Live here anymore
(Gonna watch it burn)
We are the best and
We'll fight to the death
'Till there's nothing left
Worth fighting for
Now I don't wanna
Live here anymore
(Gonna watch it burn)
We take the best and
We spit out the rest
And always leave them wanting more
In the western world
In the western world
In the western world
Of the western world
The steroid boys and video girls
We are the viral internet stars
And the anchor man
Can't stop crying
We are the dead with
The dreaded disease
The nuclear sons for you and me
Let's go all right all right let's go
What the fuck are you saying?
Now I don't wanna
Live here anymore
(Gonna watch it burn)
We are the best
And we'll fight to the death
'Till there's nothing left
Worth fighting for
In the western world
This is the end of evolution's rise
The feeding frenzy of the uncivilized
The paparazzi parasites
And the vultures can't stop feeding
This is the face of our vanity
The tabloid death of inhumanity
Let's go all right all right let's go
What the fuck are you saying?
Now I don't wanna
Live here anymore
(Gonna watch it burn)
We take the best
And we spit out the rest
And always leave them
Wanting more.
In the western world
We are the dregs
Of the western world
The steroid boys and video girls
We are the viral internet stars
And the anchor man
Can't stop lying
We are the dead with
The dreaded disease
The nuclear sons for you and me
Let's go all right all right let's go
What the fuck are you saying?
Now I don't wanna
Live here anymore
(Gonna watch it burn)
We are the best and
We'll fight to the death
'Till there's nothing left
Worth fighting for
Now I don't wanna
Live here anymore
(Gonna watch it burn)
We take the best and
We spit out the rest
And always leave them wanting more
In the western world
In the western world
In the western world
Lyrics submitted by lickidyxsplit
The Western World Lyrics as written by Fletcher Dragge Byron Mcmackin
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
Add your thoughts
Log in now to tell us what you think this song means.
Don’t have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It’s super easy, we promise!
More Featured Meanings
Light Up The Sky
Van Halen
Van Halen
Mental Istid
Ebba Grön
Ebba Grön
This is one of my favorite songs. https://fnfgo.io
Bron-Y-Aur Stomp
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
This is about bronies. They communicate by stomping.
Magical
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
How would you describe the feeling of being in love? For Ed Sheeran, the word is “Magical.” in HIS three-minute album opener, he makes an attempt to capture the beauty and delicacy of true love with words. He describes the magic of it all over a bright Pop song produced by Aaron Dessner.
Punchline
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran
Ed Sheeran sings about missing his former partner and learning important life lessons in the process on “Punchline.” This track tells a story of battling to get rid of emotions for a former lover, whom he now realized might not have loved him the same way. He’s now caught between accepting that fact and learning life lessons from it and going back to beg her for another chance.
What is a "triage?" It sounds like he's saying "drugs."