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.
It stands out on the highway
Like a creature from another time
It inspires the babies' questions ("What's that?")
For their mothers as they ride
But no one stopped to think about the babies or
How they will survive
And we almost lost Detroit
This time
How will we ever get over
Losing our minds
Just thirty miles from Detroit
Lies a giant power station
It ticks each night as the city sleeps
Seconds from annihilation
But no one stopped to think about the people or
How they will survive
The sheriff of Monroe County's got
Sure 'nough, disasters on his mind
But what would Karen Silkwood say to you
If she was still alive
That when it comes to people's safety
Money wins out every time
[improv]
Almost lost Detroit
That time
How could we ever get over
Cause odds are
We're gonna lose somewhere, one time
Odds are
We're gonna lose somewhere, sometime
And how would we ever get over
losing our minds (X2)
Didn't dig, didn't dig the signs
Almost lost Detroit
that time
Damn near totally destroyed
One time.
People all over the world wanna know
Say didn't you know?
Almost lost Detroit, that time
Damn near totally destroyed
That time
Like a creature from another time
It inspires the babies' questions ("What's that?")
For their mothers as they ride
But no one stopped to think about the babies or
How they will survive
And we almost lost Detroit
This time
How will we ever get over
Losing our minds
Just thirty miles from Detroit
Lies a giant power station
It ticks each night as the city sleeps
Seconds from annihilation
But no one stopped to think about the people or
How they will survive
The sheriff of Monroe County's got
Sure 'nough, disasters on his mind
But what would Karen Silkwood say to you
If she was still alive
That when it comes to people's safety
Money wins out every time
[improv]
Almost lost Detroit
That time
How could we ever get over
Cause odds are
We're gonna lose somewhere, one time
Odds are
We're gonna lose somewhere, sometime
And how would we ever get over
losing our minds (X2)
Didn't dig, didn't dig the signs
Almost lost Detroit
that time
Damn near totally destroyed
One time.
People all over the world wanna know
Say didn't you know?
Almost lost Detroit, that time
Damn near totally destroyed
That time
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i'm just wondering the history of detroit. cos the meaning of the song seems pretty direct. karen Silkwood is an activist who worked at a 'giant power station'. idk which in particular.
Nuclear power plants have a unique cooling tower (Hyperboloid) = "Stands out on the highway" The giant power station he talks about is Enrico Fermi one by Monroe, Michigan. Now decommissioned for thirty plus years. It 1966 it has partial meltdown but if it would have been a full melt it could have been worse. Hence why we almost lost Detroit.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monroe_County,_Michigan
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enrico_Fermi_Nuclear_Generating_Station
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_civilian_nuclear_accidents
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_Almost_Lost_Detroit
The Wiki is your friend ;-)
On Oct. 5, 1966 — that's 50 years ago Wednesday — Detroit Edison's Fermi-1 nuclear plant suffered a partial meltdown, caused by a piece of floating shrapnel inside the container vessel. According to subsequent inspections, no radioactivity escaped to the environment.