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.
These endless isles of commercial piles
with millions of items for miles and miles.
Sometimes I suddenly feel like my own worst enemy.
I can't help but wonder
Somewhere in this place are we all just on display.
And everywhere I see machines spewing out.
Our violated dreams and,
And finally I cannot breathe
I cry out, but who will hear my screams?
I steer clear of my peers
Stampeding humans are everywhere.
Sometimes I suddenly feel like my own worst enemy.
I can't help but wonder
Somewhere in this place are we all just on display.
And everywhere I see machines spewing out
Our violated dreams and,
And finally I cannot breathe
I cry out, but who will hear my screams?
Who will hear me?
And everywhere I see machines spewing out
Our violated dreams and,
And finally I cannot breathe
I cry out, but who will hear my screams?
And everywhere this factory
Just goes on
Into eternity.
I know I've fallen in too deep
I cry out, but who will hear my screams?
Who will hear me?
with millions of items for miles and miles.
Sometimes I suddenly feel like my own worst enemy.
I can't help but wonder
Somewhere in this place are we all just on display.
And everywhere I see machines spewing out.
Our violated dreams and,
And finally I cannot breathe
I cry out, but who will hear my screams?
I steer clear of my peers
Stampeding humans are everywhere.
Sometimes I suddenly feel like my own worst enemy.
I can't help but wonder
Somewhere in this place are we all just on display.
And everywhere I see machines spewing out
Our violated dreams and,
And finally I cannot breathe
I cry out, but who will hear my screams?
Who will hear me?
And everywhere I see machines spewing out
Our violated dreams and,
And finally I cannot breathe
I cry out, but who will hear my screams?
And everywhere this factory
Just goes on
Into eternity.
I know I've fallen in too deep
I cry out, but who will hear my screams?
Who will hear me?
Lyrics submitted by CrimsonRose27
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It's criticizing the consumer society where everything is created and advertised in staggering amounts. Mountains of junk that people buy and throw away in no time.
All your favorite things get turned into "cash-cows" and squeezed out for profit. Our violated dreams.. filling up endless isles at the store/mall. And in the end, we're just drowning in the waste that this sick merry-go-round has made.
And everywhere you turn, there are people stampeding to buy all that useless cr*p.
WOOOOO i love this song i have no clue what this song means, ill try to find out though XD
I think this song is about how alot of music today is more influenced by making money then the love of making music
I'm starting to think this song is about how we're making millions of items and in the process consume our planet. "Machines spewing out", "this factory just goes on into eternity". The singer obviously wants this to stop when he says" I cry out, but who will hear my screams?"
What I mainly get from this song is that people sell out their ideas. Their baby gets sold to the highest bidder and the product becomes soulless - hence violated. Then the consumer gets told to go buy this to repeat the cycle, and with credit cards we become our own enemy buying all the things we want.