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.
‘cos you don’t need your weapons now
you’ve got to hold on to your world
just stop and put your weapons down
you’ve got to hold on to your world
this fading world
(this land) is ahead of its time
oh but you know it’s past its prime
in so many ways
(this land) is a miserable rock
stuck like a foot at the end of a sock
full of razor blades
(is mine) the right to defend at all
(is mine) to fight to the end I know
(my hand) can’t hold back the seas no more
but its not from man that we need defending
‘cos you don’t need your weapons now
you’ve got to hold on to your world
just stop and put your weapons down
you’ve got to hold on to your world
this fading world
(this land) has damaged the world
how many times these toes have curled
I’ve heard many tales
(this land) is riddled with lies
how many told how the seas would rise
at such heavy scale
(is mine) to know what I’ve seen and own
(is mine) the suffering and screams at home
(my hand) can’t find New Orleans at all
this desperate land that seems to be ending
‘cos you don’t need your weapons now
you’ve got to hold on to your world
just stop and put your weapons down
you’ve got to hold on to your world
this fading world
you’ve got to hold on to your world
just stop and put your weapons down
you’ve got to hold on to your world
this fading world
(this land) is ahead of its time
oh but you know it’s past its prime
in so many ways
(this land) is a miserable rock
stuck like a foot at the end of a sock
full of razor blades
(is mine) the right to defend at all
(is mine) to fight to the end I know
(my hand) can’t hold back the seas no more
but its not from man that we need defending
‘cos you don’t need your weapons now
you’ve got to hold on to your world
just stop and put your weapons down
you’ve got to hold on to your world
this fading world
(this land) has damaged the world
how many times these toes have curled
I’ve heard many tales
(this land) is riddled with lies
how many told how the seas would rise
at such heavy scale
(is mine) to know what I’ve seen and own
(is mine) the suffering and screams at home
(my hand) can’t find New Orleans at all
this desperate land that seems to be ending
‘cos you don’t need your weapons now
you’ve got to hold on to your world
just stop and put your weapons down
you’ve got to hold on to your world
this fading world
Lyrics submitted by TheAshton
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