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.
The water turned black and it's just getting darker.
So be afraid, be afraid, be very afraid of the coming nightmare.
The neo-christian theocrats pray on a Sunday afternoon
Then welcome in Pinochet's men to intimidate and kill.
All that we know, all that we know is
Be afraid, be afraid...be very afraid of the coming nightmare.
So filled with exhilaration and feels like intoxication.
There's nothing like a firefight to get your blood pumping.
We get off to the rhythm of the trigger and destruction.
Fallujah to New Orleans with impunity to kill.
We are the hidden fist of the free market.
We are the ink, we are the quill.
What have you learned through the years?
What have you learned from your fears?
Water tastes like arsenic - feel it pumpking coursing in your blood.
Your throat gets tight, you can't quite breathe.
room spinning - kiss your ass goodbye.
Now you're off, you've been taken on a ride.
We've been sold, been sold a bill of lies.
There's a storm cloud gathering overhead.
Ominous, black, reigning hell.
when it drops jackboot down on your streets.
You're gonna pray like hell that you're armed to the teeth.
Built on a corporate welfare scam.
Rumsfield doctrine stealing wealth.
Profits to saccharine sweet, the wall street bankers weep.
As the storm gains strength the aging levees break.
The ancient ground does quake.
And your lungs will fill your spineless apathy.
So be afraid, be afraid, be very afraid of the coming nightmare.
The neo-christian theocrats pray on a Sunday afternoon
Then welcome in Pinochet's men to intimidate and kill.
All that we know, all that we know is
Be afraid, be afraid...be very afraid of the coming nightmare.
So filled with exhilaration and feels like intoxication.
There's nothing like a firefight to get your blood pumping.
We get off to the rhythm of the trigger and destruction.
Fallujah to New Orleans with impunity to kill.
We are the hidden fist of the free market.
We are the ink, we are the quill.
What have you learned through the years?
What have you learned from your fears?
Water tastes like arsenic - feel it pumpking coursing in your blood.
Your throat gets tight, you can't quite breathe.
room spinning - kiss your ass goodbye.
Now you're off, you've been taken on a ride.
We've been sold, been sold a bill of lies.
There's a storm cloud gathering overhead.
Ominous, black, reigning hell.
when it drops jackboot down on your streets.
You're gonna pray like hell that you're armed to the teeth.
Built on a corporate welfare scam.
Rumsfield doctrine stealing wealth.
Profits to saccharine sweet, the wall street bankers weep.
As the storm gains strength the aging levees break.
The ancient ground does quake.
And your lungs will fill your spineless apathy.
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slightly wrong
it's "and your lungs fill with your spineless apathy"
we get off to the rhythm of the trigger and destruction we are the hidden fist of the free market we are the ink, we are the quill
this is from the point of view of the media they are teaching us to "be afraid, be afraid"
all about media sensationalism producing fear in the populace letting them be ruled